Diwali Festival Fireworks Spike Delhi PM 2.5 Air Pollution To 1660 - 16X "Prescribed Standard"
When Diwali celebrations ended, the air in Delhi was left poorer for it. Delhi Pollution Control Committee figures indicate that Thursday was one of the most polluted days in recent years. Peaks for Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter or PM 10 across Delhi were 10 to 16 times their prescribed standard.
According to the DPCC’s live monitoring, the maximum peak for PM 10 (particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter) on Thursday was 1660 µg/m3 . The peak for PM 2.5 (smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter) was 999 µg/m3.
On Diwali last year, the maximum peak for PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels was significantly lower — 936 µg/m3 and 592 µg/m3, respectively. On Thursday, the pollution level was the highest during the period between 8 pm and 11 pm. The DPCC air monitoring station at R K Puram saw the highest peak for PM 10 at 1660 µg/m3. This is 16 times the prescribed standard of 100 µg/m3.
At Anand Vihar and Punjabi Bagh, the PM 10 peak was 12 times the norm, at 1,230 µg/m3 and 1,200 µg/m3, respectively. The peak at Mandir Marg and Civil Lines followed close behind at 1,080 and 1,000 µg/m3, respectively.
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http://www.financialexpress.com/news/delhi-air-is-16-times-worse-than-normal/1301631