Toxic NO2 levels increase in Bengaluru

 High concentration in school areas of the city; 2,730 children also suffer from asthma!

Toxic NO2 levels increase in Bengaluru

• NO2 has been increasing for five years
• Standards unchanged for 15 years
• Greenpeace India Society report

Kere Manjunath ಕೆರೆ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್

Bengaluru: Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which is very harmful to human health, is much higher than the limit set by the World Health Organization in many areas of the city. NO2 is high in places where schools are located.

According to the report released by Greenpeace India Society, ‘As per the United Nations guidelines, data from 13 air quality measurement stations in the city has been reviewed and all are higher than the prescribed limit.

Compared to other areas of the city, pollution is high at the city railway station. NO2 concentration is highest on 295 days of the year. Also, NO2 levels are high at air quality measurement stations located 500 meters away from five schools. The report said that NO2 pollution in the city's air is also responsible for the 2,730 cases of asthma diagnosed in children in 2019.

The highest pollution was recorded at the air quality measurement stations at BTM Layout and Silk Board, and traffic pollution is one of the main reasons for the increase in NO2 in these areas.

According to the data recorded at 13 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) stations in Bengaluru, the air is very polluted. The concentration of NO2 in it is very high, which is having an adverse effect on human health. There is no sign of a decrease in the concentration of NO2 in the city in the last five years. The report said that the satellite-based review has shown that the concentration of NO2 in the atmosphere is increasing day by day.

The standards in India to prevent the ill effects of air pollution are very backward. The standards here for toxic elements like NO2 are less stringent than the global standards. India's National Air Quality Standards (NAQS) have not been updated for 15 years, leaving millions of people exposed to the ill effects of air pollution.

The 'Beyond North' report released by Greenpeace India Society has examined the levels of NO2 in seven cities in the country and explained its impact. The World Health Organization's NO2 limit is 10 mg/m3, and Pune's level is 37. Jaipur's is 36, Kolkata's 28, Mumbai's 26, Bengaluru's 23, Hyderabad's 23, and Chennai's 15.

Adverse Effects of NO2

* NO2 entering the human body can damage the respiratory system, causing coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing. It can increase asthma and increase respiratory infections in children.

* Long-term exposure to NO2 can lead to increased lung infections. It also reduces lung function.

* NO2 causes many types of allergic infections. It also leads to premature death.

* Apart from causing eye and skin infections, a person loses the ability to smell.

Where and how much NO2 is recorded?

(mg/m3) (World Health Organization limit is 10 mg/m3)

Bapujinagar;23

BTM Layout;24

City Railway Station;29

Hebbal;23

Hombegowda Nagar;23

Jayanagar 5th Block;13

Jigani;13

Kasturinagar;10

Peenya;23

RVCE Mailasandra;11

Saneguruvanahalli;21

Shivapura-Peenya;15

Silk Board;22

How many days of the year is NO2 concentration high?

(Not to exceed one day as per World Health Organization)

City Railway Station;295

Hombegowda Nagar;125

Bapujinagar;120

Peenya;119

Hebbal;104

Jayanagar 5th Block;96

BTM Layout;89

Saneguruvanahalli;24

Jigani;22

Shivapura–Peenya;22

RVCE Mailasandra;6