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Time of India
a day ago
- Health
- Time of India
Pollutants order changes post Covid pandemic: Cooking, industry emissions on PM2.5 rogue list
1 2 3 4 Kolkata: On the occasion of World Environment Day, the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB) released a comprehensive report revealing how Kolkata's air pollution sources had significantly shifted in the years following Covid-19 pandemic. The analysis, drawing on two landmark studies — NEERI's pre-pandemic source apportionment study (2019) and TERI's recent post-pandemic study (2025) — shows a perceptible change in sectoral contribution to two key pollutants: PM10 and PM2.5. Significantly, only these two pollutants breach the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS). Earlier, releasing the report, Bengal environment minister Chandrima Bhattacharya, WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra, additional chief secretary of the environment department Roshni Sen, former VC of Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) Ajay Roy, and WBPCB member secretary J P Meena emphasised how plastic pollution plays havoc with our lives and biodiversity. WBPCB chairman Kalyan Rudra declared an award for students for collecting and responsible disposal of plastic wastes through its network of 5,000-plus schools in Bengal. According to the findings, coarse particulate matter (PM10) in the city saw a decrease in dust-related emissions, from a dominant 57.3% in 2019 to 43% in 2025, suggesting possible improvements in street cleaning and construction regulation. However, this was offset by rising contributions from household cooking (from 13.3% to 18%), industry (5.9% to 12%), and vehicular tailpipe emissions (8% to 13%). Notably, refuse burning and secondary sources, which were negligible in 2019, emerged as more prominent contributors in 2025. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which poses graver health risks due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, now sees an increased contribution from industrial emissions (7% to 21%) and cooking (27.9% to 29%). Dust emissions halved (from 24.7% to 12%), while secondary aerosols — a complex mixture formed through chemical reactions involving vehicle, industrial, and power plant emissions — came into sharp focus, now accounting for 13% of PM2.5. This rise suggests a growing influence of chemical pollutants in the city's atmosphere. The report also notes that while policies such as the introduction of BSVI vehicles and the uptake of electric mobility helped reduce PM2.5 from tailpipes (23.5% to 20%), older vehicle fleets continue to be significant emitters of PM10.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
EV cars, two-wheelers driving Lucknow closer to green goals
Gradual increase in the number of electric vehicles (EV cars and two-wheelers) on Lucknow roads in the last one year and other air pollution abatement measures have brought positive changes in the city's air quality. As compared to pre-monsoon period in 2024, the corresponding duration is less polluted this year, according to the 'Assessment of Ambient Air Quality of Lucknow City', a pre-monsoon 2025 report released by CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR) on the eve of World Environment Day on Wednesday. According to the report, nine localities of the state capital, comprising four commercial and residential each, and one industrial, were monitored in April-May (pre-monsoon period). The report highlighted that though there is a declining trend in pollution levels as compared to the corresponding period last year, the average pollutant concentration levels recorded were above the safe or permissible limits set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). According to NAAQS, the PM 10 concentration should not be more than 100 and PM 2.5 concentration should not be more than 60 micrograms per cubic metre of air. In all the nine localities, the air pollution levels were above the safe limits with Gomtinagar, Charbagh and Chowk being the most polluted localities. Highest average PM2.5 concentration was recorded in Gomtinagar (82.5 micrograms per cubic metre), followed by Indiranagar (74.5), Aliganj (71.6), and Vikasnagar (68.3). In commercial areas, Chowk's air was the most polluted with PM 2.5 concentration recorded 107.3 micrograms per cubic metre followed by Chargbagh (107), Aminabad (92.9) and Alambagh (86.5). This year, PM 2.5 concentration range was 68.3-114.5 micrograms while last year this range was 70.6-138.6 micrograms. Meanwhile, highest average PM 10 concentration in residential areas was recorded in Gomtinagar (131.3 micrograms), followed by Aliganj (126.8), Indiranagar 119.8, and Vikasnagar 117.2. In commercial areas, highest PM 10 concentration was recorded in Charbagh (187.6 micrograms) followed by Chowk (174.5), Aminabad (162.6) and Alambagh (151.7), respectively. "April and May are typically dry summer months in Lucknow city. Hence, there is a rise in surface temperature. Air turbulence results in loose soil and road dust resuspension into the atmosphere. Also, the ongoing road widening, pavements, flyover, and building construction activities in the city also contributed the entrainment of dust into the ambient air environment," the IITR report said. The report highlighted that the number of registered vehicles in the city has also gone up that is contributing to more jams, increased fuel consumption and relative traffic pollution along the city roads. Despite these factors, the particulate levels showed a declining trend from the previous year's pre-monsoon surveys. IITR attributed this trend to multiple action plans implemented to mitigate the ambient air pollution concentration. In 2024-25, more EV buses (7 more) and CNG buses (47 more) have been added to the public transport of the city. "The gradual increase in personal EV cars and two-wheelers has also been observed on city roads during the last one year indicating a shift to cleaner fuel vehicle use in the city. Besides, the number of passengers using the Lucknow metro has increased," the report said. It further added that several new flyovers, connecting roads, and outer roads have also shared the load of the city traffic. The outer ring roads around the city have provided uninterrupted routes for long-distance vehicles to avoid entry into the city. Deployment of almost 100 e-sweeping machines (slow moving vehicle) in the city by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) for road cleaning and dust suppression may also have contributed to the reduction in ambient particulate matter levels, the report added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
EV cars, two-wheelers driving Lucknow closer to green goals
Lucknow: Gradual increase in the number of electric vehicles (EV cars and two-wheelers) on Lucknow roads in the last one year and other air pollution abatement measures have brought positive changes in the city's air quality. As compared to pre-monsoon period in 2024, the corresponding duration is less polluted this year, according to the 'Assessment of Ambient Air Quality of Lucknow City', a pre-monsoon 2025 report released by CSIR-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR) on the eve of World Environment Day on Wednesday. According to the report, nine localities of the state capital, comprising four commercial and residential each, and one industrial, were monitored in April-May (pre-monsoon period). The report highlighted that though there is a declining trend in pollution levels as compared to the corresponding period last year, the average pollutant concentration levels recorded were above the safe or permissible limits set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). According to NAAQS, the PM 10 concentration should not be more than 100 and PM 2.5 concentration should not be more than 60 micrograms per cubic metre of air. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo In all the nine localities, the air pollution levels were above the safe limits with Gomtinagar, Charbagh and Chowk being the most polluted localities. Highest average PM2.5 concentration was recorded in Gomtinagar (82.5 micrograms per cubic metre), followed by Indiranagar (74.5), Aliganj (71.6), and Vikasnagar (68.3). In commercial areas, Chowk's air was the most polluted with PM 2.5 concentration recorded 107.3 micrograms per cubic metre followed by Chargbagh (107), Aminabad (92.9) and Alambagh (86.5). This year, PM 2.5 concentration range was 68.3-114.5 micrograms while last year this range was 70.6-138.6 micrograms. Meanwhile, highest average PM 10 concentration in residential areas was recorded in Gomtinagar (131.3 micrograms), followed by Aliganj (126.8), Indiranagar 119.8, and Vikasnagar 117.2. In commercial areas, highest PM 10 concentration was recorded in Charbagh (187.6 micrograms) followed by Chowk (174.5), Aminabad (162.6) and Alambagh (151.7), respectively. "April and May are typically dry summer months in Lucknow city. Hence, there is a rise in surface temperature. Air turbulence results in loose soil and road dust resuspension into the atmosphere. Also, the ongoing road widening, pavements, flyover, and building construction activities in the city also contributed the entrainment of dust into the ambient air environment," the IITR report said. The report highlighted that the number of registered vehicles in the city has also gone up that is contributing to more jams, increased fuel consumption and relative traffic pollution along the city roads. Despite these factors, the particulate levels showed a declining trend from the previous year's pre-monsoon surveys. IITR attributed this trend to multiple action plans implemented to mitigate the ambient air pollution concentration. In 2024-25, more EV buses (7 more) and CNG buses (47 more) have been added to the public transport of the city. "The gradual increase in personal EV cars and two-wheelers has also been observed on city roads during the last one year indicating a shift to cleaner fuel vehicle use in the city. Besides, the number of passengers using the Lucknow metro has increased," the report said. It further added that several new flyovers, connecting roads, and outer roads have also shared the load of the city traffic. The outer ring roads around the city have provided uninterrupted routes for long-distance vehicles to avoid entry into the city. Deployment of almost 100 e-sweeping machines (slow moving vehicle) in the city by the Lucknow Municipal Corporation (LMC) for road cleaning and dust suppression may also have contributed to the reduction in ambient particulate matter levels, the report added.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Better ambient air quality this year in Lucknow, yet not good enough, says IITR report
Though the city has observed better ambient air quality this year as compared to the previous year's pre-monsoon report, it continued to be above the permissible limits of NAAQS despite implementing air pollution control measures in the city such as enforcement of BS-VI compliant vehicles, and promotion of CNG and e-vehicles. This was highlighted in the 'Assessment of Ambient Air Quality of Lucknow City Pre-Monsoon 2025' report released by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR) on Wednesday. The particulate matter (PM) concentrations were observed from pre-monsoon 2024 to pre-monsoon 2025. The PM10 concentrations decreased by 9.8%, 14.6%, and 4.9% while PM2.5 concentrations declined by 13.6%, 17.2%, and 17.4% in residential, commercial, and industrial areas, respectively. However, they exceeded the NAAQS limits -- 100 for PM10 and 60 for PM2.5. The PM10 levels remained relatively stable at Aliganj and Vikas Nagar, while Indira Nagar and Gomti Nagar showed an increase in 2024, followed by a decline in 2025. In commercial areas, including Charbagh, the PM levels fluctuated over five years but declined in 2025 as compared to 2024. Overall, commercial areas exhibited a sharp increase in PM10 levels from 2021 to 2024, with a slight decrease in 2025, though values remained above the NAAQS limit. In the industrial area (Amausi), PM10 levels showed a variable trend, increasing from 2023 to a peak in 2024, followed by a slight decline in 2025. The PM2.5 levels remained consistently above the permissible limit in all locations, but commercial and industrial areas consistently recorded higher pollution levels as compared to residential areas. The PM10 concentration was the highest in Gomti Nagar (residential) and Charbagh (commercial), while the PM2.5 levels were the highest in Gomti Nagar (residential) and Chowk (commercial) areas. While both the pollutants can be harmful for health, CSIR-IITR director Bhaskar Narayan said that PM 2.5 can be severe as it can get mixed with the bloodstream. 'This downward trend suggests an overall improvement in air quality across all zones. The observed reduction in the concentration of particulate matter may be due to relatively moderate atmosphere dryness conditions during the 2025 sampling period, as compared to the completely dry seasons in 2024,' the report said. The night time noise level trend in residential areas decreased slightly over the years, except in Aliganj, where a marginal increase was observed. In commercial-cum-traffic areas, noise levels showed an increasing trend, except for Alambagh, which showed a decline. In industrial areas, night time noise levels slightly decreased as compared to the previous year.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Metals slip through air gap in Delhi
New Delhi: There are no standards defined to monitor the level of heavy metals in ambient air quality. This was highlighted in a report submitted to the National Green Tribunal by the Central Pollution Control Board . This lack of standards makes it difficult to reach conclusions about the findings from a 2024 study of the air in east Delhi. On Sept 29 last, TOI, in a report titled 'New study reveals air quality concerns in east Delhi', highlighted the presence of heavy metals such as cadmium, arsenic, chromium, copper, zinc, molybdenum and lead in the ambient air. The study also noted the presence of similar heavy metals in cities like Jaisalmer, Patiala, Ludhiana, Visakhapatnam and Panchkula. When NGT sought an explanation, CPCB explained that monitoring of heavy metals was not conducted due to the absence of defined standards for their presence in the air. It also stated that no countries or eco agencies monitored air for heavy metals except a province in Canada. "It is submitted that countries/agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the European Union, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan and the World Health Organization (WHO) have not proposed standards/guideline levels for chromium, copper, zinc and molybdenum," CPCB told the tribunal. It also pointed out that the mean values for zinc, copper, molybdenum and chromium reported in the study in east Delhi last year ranged, respectively from 119.9 to 1,364.5 microgram per cubic metre, 112.8 to 1,614.5 mg/m3, 40.6 to 376.3 mg/m3 and 68.7 to 244.4 mg/m3. The reported values exhibited high variation, CPCB said. The pollution board added that the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, had monitoring on 12 parameters, including arsenic and nickel, but there were no parameters for chromium, copper, zinc and molybdenum.
