Latest news with #NationalAmbientAirQualityStandards
Time of India
5 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
6 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.
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.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Heavy Metals Slip Through Air Gap In City
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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ótimas notícias para os cidadãos brasileiros! Leia mais Undo 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. It, however, said that the ministry of environment of Ontario, Canada, had developed the Ambient Air Quality Criteria (AAQC) that are now used in environmental assessments, special studies using ambient air monitoring data, assessment of general air quality in a community and annual reporting on air quality in Canada. AAQC is not a regulatory value, but a reading on the concentration of a contaminant in the air. The index was used to assess general (ambient) air quality resulting from all sources of a contaminant to air. The AAQC standard for zinc is 120 micrograms per cubic metre, for copper 50, for molybdenum 120 and for chromium, 0.5 micrograms per cubic metre. Kanhaiya Lal, the scientist who conducted the research in 2024, remarked, "Standards are generally created when the source that might resuspend heavy metals in air increases. Since such sources are also increasing, like mining and road construction, the chances of resuspension are also increasing. In the future, monitoring them might be important, but it will depend on how strictly these emissions are monitored by different institutes. "
Time of India
08-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
PM 2.5 level improves, Kol April air 3rd cleanest among Indo-Gangetic cities
Kolkata: Kolkata was found to have the third best air quality among million-plus cities in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) city in April, calculated on the PM2.5 concentration in the ambient air. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While the city recorded 29 µg/m³ PM 2.5 concentration, Ghaziabad emerged as the worst polluted city with 80 µg/m³ PM 2.5 level, followed by Delhi (77 µg/m³) in April, revealed an analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent research organisation working on trends, causes, and their study shows that in April, Kolkata's air quality improved notably over the past six years. The city recorded 13 'good' days, when the PM 2.5 concentration in the air remained in the range of 0 µg/m³-30 µg/m³, a positive reversal from zero 'good' days in 2024. Kolkata air in April saw 22 'good' days in 2020 and 21 'good' days in 2022. Gadag in Karnataka was India's cleanest city, with a monthly PM2.5 average of 6 µg/m³. The top 10 cleanest cities included four from Karnataka, two from Tamil Nadu and one each from Mizoram, Tripura, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Uttar number of Kolkata's 'satisfactory' April days, with the PM 2.5 concentration in the range of 31 µg/m³-60 µg/m³ days, was 17, which is, however, fewer than 2024's 28. But this figure was consistent with the pattern in cleaner years of 2023 with 20 'satisfactory' days and 2021 'satisfactory' days. This year, April saw more 'good' days than 'satisfactory' days, signalling a shift towards cleaner air. Also, unlike in 2024 and 2021, this April witnessed no 'moderate' days (61 µg/m³-90 µg/m³). In 2024, there were two 'moderate' days and three in 2019. The data, said experts, showed that the figures did not match the exceptional levels of air quality in 2020 and 2022, but this April represented a strong recovery. This April was also the third-cleanest since 2019. But the analysis underlined the lax national ambient air quality standards, compared to the stringent World Health Organisation (WHO) standard. Manoj Kumar, an analyst at CREA, said, "India must update its National Ambient Air Quality Standards to reflect the latest scientific findings and better align with WHO's interim targets. The current standards, established more than a decade ago, are lenient and continue to contribute to significant health impacts and economic losses."Kolkata remains well within the national ambient air quality standard (NAAQS) of 40 µg/m³, yet it overshot the WHO standard by 14 µg/m³ in April.
