Civic body's compilation of pollution data for 2012 points to an increase in air pollution and rise in decibel levels, particularly in silence zones. Blame the construction boom and rising number of vehicles.
Your city is getting more polluted. As a result, your susceptibility to health problems is rising — from sinusitis to respiratory problems, high blood pressure and heart disorders.
The Environment Status Report 2012 for your city states that levels of nitrogen dioxide, ammonia, lead, nickel and suspended particulate matter (basically, dust particles) have gone up in Mumbai as compared to last year. The report is an annual compilation of various indicators put out by the city’s municipal corporation.
The report also maps areas worst hit by the noxious air — Chembur, Worli, Khar, Andheri and Bhandup — where levels of pollutants have been found to be higher than the standard levels.
The rise in dust particles floating around in the air you breathe is spurred by vehicular pollution and the continuing construction boom.
The report is compiled by taking random samples of air quality from BMC’s six air-monitoring centres where parameters are checked twice a week throughout the year. The findings are analysed and compared with standards of pollution index set by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Reports suggested that the most-polluted air was found in north Mumbai and north-east Mumbai which has a huge concentration of industries.
The Environment Status Report suggests that the level of benzo alpha pyrene — a cancer-causing chemical — has reduced over the years but is higher than the standard set by the central pollution control board. The cancer-causing chemical emitted from industrial areas can cause cancer of the breathing tract and of the voice box as they are absorbed by the body while breathing.
Similarly, nitrogen dioxide, usually associated with gases emitted during traffic congestion, can cause a decrease in lung function and it can increase the risk of respiratory symptoms if there is long-term inhalation and exposure to the gas. Every day more than 500 vehicles are added to the city complicating the situation further.
The most-polluted regions of the city are areas around Chembur, Worli, Khar, Andheri and Bhandup, says the report.
Chembur, adjoining areas most polluted
The Environment Status Report - 2012 has once again rated Chembur and its adjoining areas as the most polluted suburbs in Mumbai.
Maravali air monitoring station, one of the six monitoring quality of air in the city, has shown a drastic increase in the level of pollutants.
The area having a large number of industries, such as petroleum refineries (BPCL, HPCL and IOC), fertilizer unit (RCF), and power generation units (Tata Power) apart from BMC’s biggest dumping ground — Deonar — makes a deadly combination for the area which records highest levels of toxic gases and other pollutants emitting Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM).
In Chembur and adjoining areas, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide in the air was found to be the highest.
Chembur residents, who are already suffering because of the high levels of pollution, are now dreading the announcement of Tata Power’s plan to convert one of its generating units to coal.
“It is expected that to generate 500 MW of electricity post conversion, they would burn 7,000-8,000 tonnes of coal every day. This will increase the level of pollutants in the air, which will create environment and health hazards for residents,” said one of the practising doctors who has written to the ministry of environment and forests asking it to not allow this conversion.
Several residents and medical practitioners in the area have volunteered to make the quality of life better for all of them.
Report says, it is deafening here in city
Silence zones haven’t remained so silent after all, the civic body has observed.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in its Environment Status Report - 2012, said noise levels in the city have increased, mostly during festivals and processions, with most cases being reported from silence zones.
Even though the noise limit for industrial area has been set as the highest in the index, noise levels recorded during festivals and processions throughout the year have crossed even that.
Noise pollution increases the risk of hearing loss, sleep disorders, high blood pressure and, worse, heart-related ailments as well even for healthy people.
According to experts, lung diseases register a sharp rise during Diwali due to the smoke emanating from firecrackers.
In a complete disregard for the HC order, noise levels recorded in silence zones in 2011-12 were around 63 decibels (db) by day and 78db at night, as against the permissible limits of 50db and 40db respectively. Noise levels in more than 1,000 notified silence zones have steadily increased.
In residential areas, noise levels were recorded around 58db during the day and 74db at night as against the permissible limits of 55db and 45db respectively.
During festivals and processions, the levels in any area go up to 60-63db during the day and around 93db at night.
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