Bengaluru AQI at its worst in over one-month: IQAir forecast

Bengaluru’s air quality index dropped to the unhealthy category for the second day this week, reaching 156 on Tuesday, the highest it has been since at least Feb. 13: IQAir

Bengaluru’s air quality index dropped to the unhealthy category for the second day this week, reaching 156 on Tuesday, the highest it has been since at least Feb. 13: IQAir

Many localities in Bengaluru face an unhealthy level air quality on Tuesday

Bengaluru, which comes in ranked at 82nd of the most polluted cities in India, logged its worst air quality at around 6 a.m. on Tuesday, which stood at 279, with Bapuji nagar’s AQI going up to 170.

Hebbal, Siddapura, Jayanagar and Madiwala were some areas recording over 150 AQI levels.

So what is causing the Bengaluru air to be unbreathable today?

The main sources of pollution in the city are said to be from vehicular emissions and ‘road dust’ that is raked up as vehicles pass over it. This road dust accumulates from exhaust fumes and dirt particles.

Bengaluru’s vehicles do not follow quality control standards, with most vehicles still using fuel sources like diesel and petrol. According to IQAir, the use of diesel in combination with outdated engines found in many of the older trucks and cars leads to the creation of black carbon (BC).

Data from AQI.in showed Bengaluru saw worst air quality at around 6 a.m. in the morning on Tuesday

Another major polluter seems to be the construction industry, responsible for dust, sand particles and cement residue in the environment. Haze, smoke and burning of garbage also contribute to the pollution in the city.

The city is also home to a number of office buildings and skyscrapers with glass exteriors, which trap heat inside, making it necessary for workers to have heavy duty air conditioning that further pollutes the city air with carbon emissions.

However, an improvement is expected in the short-term as Bengaluru follows the trend in moving to cleaner forms of energy by shifting to electric vehicles and adopting carpool and public transport for commuting.

Experts say exposure to fine particle matter, particularly in winter, increases the risk of conditions including respiratory infections and a reduction in overall lung function.

Senior citizens are therefore advised not to take morning walks in the months of December and January as the thick, heavy smog and higher concentration of pollutants during this period can cause breathing problems.

AQI will improve in Bengaluru by the end of the week

According to IQAir's forecast, the city’s air quality will drop back to a moderate level (80) by the end of the week.