Kolkata: The air quality index (AQI) turns ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ across the monitoring station in Kolkata for the first time this season on Monday and continues to deteriorate, triggered by a calm wind condition, which inhibits the spread of pollutants.
Track the level of pollution in your Cityeven during Puja and Diwali times, the quality of the air around the city has swung back to ‘moderate’ after a steep rise.
AQI 201-300 in the ‘poor’ category, while 301-400 shows the ‘very poor’ condition.
On Monday, the city woke up for fog, even as a low hanging smoke, and the air quality deteriorated during the developing day.
According to scientists of the state pollution control agency (WBPCB), meteorological changes cause calm wind conditions, reduce the dissolution of pollutants in the air.
According to the central pollution control board guidelines, ‘poor’ for ‘very poor’ aqi can cause breathing uncomfortable in prolonged exposure.
Even when Delhi and NCR panted for fresh air last week, with ambient aqi dipped from ‘very poor’ for ‘severe’ (401-500) steadily, Kolkata experienced a ‘moderate’ aqi, thanks to good air flow.
“In fact, we monitor the remains of burning plants in the district and save them under the check,” said a WBPCB officer.
Burning plant residues in Punjab and Haryana are often quoted as one of the main causes behind a sharper pollution surge in Delhi.
Docs: Poor Aqi can lead to patient wavesBallygunge station, for example, recording ‘poor’ aqi at the beginning of the day, but at 9am, it slid further to ‘very poor’.
It continued to deteriorate until 1 noon and was slightly increased after 3:00 p.m., but still ‘very poor’ all day.
Aqi at other stations also remains ‘poor’, except that Rabindra Sarobar, located in the pure zone in the city.
Bidhannagar, which shows the quality of ‘moderate’ air in the morning, also slid into the ‘poor’ category at 9am and since it lives in the zone.
“This slide is not pleasant,” said Pulmonologist Consultant Arup Haldar.
“If AQI continues to remain poor, there will be a surge in patients who suddenly with acute breathing pressure.
Even after this Diwali, we don’t see a sudden leap in the number of patients because air quality can still be tolerated, unlike previous years.” Apart from breathing in districts such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD), the most common diseases caused by air pollution including ischemic heart disease, stroke, lung cancer and acute underweight infections.
Because Aqi Kolkata is driven by PM2.5, the smallest particles, the danger is generally considered, said Debasis Basu, a preventive drug expert.