Mumbai see a surge in Concentration of Air pollutant within 6 weeks

According to an official data, the concentration of Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 has shot up four times within six weeks. 

In the week ending on October 7, Mumbai was experiencing occasional showers, and the air quality monitors registered an average daily PM2.5 concentration of 27.5ug/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air). It was an average taken from the preceding week.

The quantum increased to 61ug/m3 by November 1. On November 15, it further rose to 89.4ug/m3. This shows an increase of 320% from the October first week.

Daily PM2.5 data for 120 days between August 1 and November 15 this year was examined by Hindustan Times. They found a spike in the daily average quantum of these pollutants soon after October 7.

Also read: Diwali 2021: Mumbai Does Not Experience 'Very Poor Range' Air Quality

As per the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 60ug/m3 per day is the 'safe' threshold for PM2.5 concentration. While according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the daily safe limit is 15ug/m3. Recently, Mumbai has also witnessed a spike in pollution. Experts, while explaining the about the same, stated that it is due to the accumulation of particulate matter in the city’s air.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, November 17, the city experienced its second warmest morning in 10 years, with the nighttime temperature touching 26.5 degrees Celsius and also witnessed unseasonal light showers in parts of Mumbai. Also, AQI in Mumbai reached a seasonal high of 245 on Monday, November 15.