Level of suspended air particles rise

With temperatures dropping in the city, the level of suspended air particles has shot up. The Maharashtra pollution control board (MPCB) says the quantity of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) crossed the 200 microgram per meter cube this month.

On December 7, the city recorded an RSPM level of 210 microgram per meter cube of air. The permissible level is 100 microgram per meter cube. On December 14, this plummeted to 188 microgram per meter cube. But, last week, the RSPM level stood at 145 microgram per meter cube. Although the quantity of RSPM has linearly declined, it is still well above the permissible limit.

The level of suspended particulate matter has also shot up, fluctuating between 400 microgram and 468 microgram per meter cube, thanks to industrial wastes and vehicular emissions. And, its permissible level stands at 200 microgram per meter cube.

Both airborne particles, RSPM and SPM, can cause asthma, migraine, cancer and heart attack.

“Pollutants are unable to disperse in winter due to smog,” said Dr Jitendra Sangewar, regional officer MPCB.

Meanwhile, the city on Monday recorded its coldest day of the month, with a minimum temperature of 15.2°C at the Santa Cruz weather station and 19.6°C at Colaba.