Air pollution levels on the rise in Pune

The dip in the mercury, over the last few days, has resulted in an increase in the air pollution level in the city. In fact, according to the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board’s (MPCB) ambient air quality monitoring station, the level of respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), over the last 15 days has soon a steady rise, indicating deterioration in the air quality in the city.

As the name indicates, RSPM, is the particulate matter which is present in the air. While the permissible limits for RSPM is 100 microgram per cubic meter, the measurement has shown that over the last 15 days, it has been over 200 microgram per cubic meters. Such sharp increase in the RSPM levels tender the air quality poor and turns the air harmful for children and people with past history of respiratory illnesses.

City-based environmentalist Parineeta Dandekar said that increase in RSPM levels is due to the combination of various weather conditions. “The dip in the temperature does not allow the particulate matter to escape and hence, the air pollution levels rise. Also, as a secondary cause, the increasing vehicular pollution has resulted in the rise in air pollution levels in the city,” she said.

The increase in air pollution levels has also resulted in a rise in cases of respiratory illness including asthma. Dandekar said cases of asthma detected in children has seen a very sharp rise in Pune in the recent years.