NO2 pollution in Mumbai shoots up in a year

The city witnessed a 52% increase in the level of gaseous air pollution caused by nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in April this year (as opposed to April 2020), says a new report by Greenpeace India (Behind the Smokescreen) released Wednesday

The city witnessed a 52% increase in the level of gaseous air pollution caused by nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in April this year (as opposed to April 2020), says a new report by Greenpeace India (Behind the Smokescreen) released Wednesday. The report also claims that the general quantity of NO2 — a byproduct of fuel burning by motor vehicles, power generation and industrial activity — rose during this one month period in eight capital cities across India, also includingDelhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Jaipur and Lucknow.

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Delhi saw the most dramatic increase in NO2 levels during the study period, at 125%, followed by Chennai (94%), Bengaluru (90%), Hyderabad (69%), Mumbai, Jaipur (47%), Lucknow (32%) and lastly Kolkata (11%). NO2 can severely impact respiratory, circulatory and neurological systems in humans. With recent studies establishing a direct correlation between ambient air quality and the prevalence of severe Covid-19, the increase has elicited worry from experts.

Many said these results, based on data from satellite observations, point to the heavy burden of tailpipe emissions from vehicles and other emissions from non-essential industries, which were all shuttered during the Covid-19 induced lockdown last year. This year, however, the movement of vehicles has been allowed to continue.

“Tailpipe emission is a major reason for the rise in NO2 levels in air pollution of Mumbai. There are around 40 lakh private vehicles in Mumbai. The immediate agenda should be to restrict the number of private vehicles, increase public transport, phase out older automobiles, and promote clean mobility,” said Bhagwan Kesbhat of Waatavaran, an organization that works on air pollution.