AIR QUALITY BULLETIN FACTSHEET 2017

Transcription

1 AIR QUALITY BULLETIN FACTSHEET 217

2 Highlights 1. In the year 217, only 5% days were found under the Good air quality category. It was observed that the maximum number of days (76%) in Lucknow had bad air quality. 2. Out of 76% of bad air quality days, 61% of the days had relatively high levels of pollution and the air quality was under Poor to Severe category. 3. Among the rest of the total 365 monitored days, 19% were noted under the Satisfactory category µg/m 3 was the maximum concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) observed in Lucknow on November 13, 217, which was 7 times higher than its safe limits. 5. Monthly mean concentration of particulate matter (PM2.5) was recorded to be the highest in the month of November (231 µg/m 3 ), followed by December (217 µg/m 3 ) and January (161 µg/m 3 ), Lalbagh was found to be the most polluted place in Lucknow among three locations where real time pollutants data is measured. 7. Based on the 7 manual monitoring stations air quality data, Hazratganj was found to be the most polluted. 8. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Lucknow was 121 µg/m³ which was 3 and 12 times more than the national standard and WHO safety limits respectively. 9. As an immediate response to the state of the ambient air quality in Lucknow, the Uttar Pradesh Government must formulate a Clean Air Action Plan with each action plan in a time bound manner. 1. The government must inform residents about the air quality and must also issue health advisory for the citizens. 1 The value is average of three monitoring stations data. In case of a city with multiple monitoring

3 Background The purpose of the report is to summarize the ambient air quality of Lucknow in year 217 and to investigate the level of exposure of air pollution. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) real time monitoring stations was used and further analyzed using varied statistical tools and techniques. The particulate matter along with other pollutants was perpetually monitored with the Continuous Air Quality Monitoring device installed at three locations (Talkatora, Lalbagh and Central School) in Lucknow. The air quality of Lucknow was also measured using 7 manual monitoring stations installed at 1 industrial, 4 commercial and 2 residential sites. Particulate matter has been established as the most prominent pollutant causing the rise in Lucknow s pollution levels and all the other monitored pollutants have been found generally under safe limits. The report, therefore, also assesses and presents a trend of PM2.5. I. Good day versus bad days in Lucknow The number of days with varied Air Quality Index 2 values is elaborated in the graph. The colour-coding of the bar graph is in accordance with CPCB s AQI category. It was observed that only 5% of the total monitored days were found under Good category in Lucknow. In 217, it was observed that the maximum number of days (76%) in Lucknow had bad air quality. Out of these, 61% had relatively high levels of pollution and the air quality was under Poor to Severe+ category. 19% of the total monitored days witnessed Satisfactory air quality category. 2 The AQI is based on the sub index of the three pollutants, which is PM2.5,NO2, SO2. AQI has been calculated as per the procedure prescribed by CPCB.

4 In the winter months, Lucknow s air was similar to toxic smoke and was found in Very Poor to Severe+ category for 61 consecutive days of November and December. Good 5% Satisfactory 19% Bad 76% Graph 1: Air Quality in year 217 II. Most Polluted month All round the year, the monthly mean concentration of PM2.5 3 was observed to be the highest for November. The average concentration of PM2.5 was calculated as 232 µg/m 3 ; while in the month of December and January, the monthly mean concentrations were 217 µg/m 3 and 161 µg/m 3 respectively. August and July were the least polluted months; the monthly mean concentrations were 44 µg/m 3 and 37 µg/m 3 respectively. 3 The ranking is based on the average value of PM2.5 for three monitoring station s data

5 PM2.5 (μg/m 3 ) Monthly Mean Daily limit Graph 2: Monthly mean concentration of Particulate matter (PM2.5) in 217 II. Most Polluted Place in Lucknow Lalbagh was found to be the most polluted place in Lucknow among the three locations where continuous air quality monitoring stations are installed. The annual mean PM2.5 concentration was 13 µg/m 3 followed by Talkatora (129 µg/m 3 ) and Central School (14 µg/m 3 ). 163 PM2.5 Annual Mean (μg/m3) Lalbagh Talkatora Central School Graph 3: Most Polluted place of Lucknow based on CAAQMS

6 Based on the 7 manual monitoring stations air quality data 4, Hazratganj, which is a commercial centre, was found as the most polluted among the seven locations. The annual mean of PM1 was 313 µg/m 3 while Saraimali Khan (233 µg/m 3) occupied the second position in the ranking. Annual Mean (μg/m 3 ) PM1 SO2 NO Graph 4: Most Polluted based on Manual monitoring stations data III. The worst days of every month In the year 217, Lucknow s air quality was found to be the worst on November 13, although according to CPCB daily Air Quality Bulletin, 14 th November was the most polluted. The average value of three monitoring stations was calculated as 446µg/m 3, which is 7 times higher than the safe limits. Graph 5: Worst days of every Month 4 The ranking is based on 11 month PM1 data. December data was not available

7 Concentration Safe limit No. of times 24_hr PM2.5 (μg/m 3 ) No.of times The worst recorded day in each month is presented in the table below: Date Concentration No. of times 16/1/ /2/ /3/ /4/ /5/ /6/ /7/ /8/ /9/ /1/ /11/ /12/ Table: The Worst days of Every Month

8 V. Comparison of the air quality of last two years Last year, there was no major improvement in the air quality of Lucknow. However the air quality of the year 217 was slightly better than that of 216. The annual average concentration of PM2.5 in Lucknow was slightly better at µg/m³ compared to the previous year (216). However, it was still 3 times more than the national standard and 12 times that of the WHO safety limits. For more information, contact Ankita Jyoti ankita@ceedindia.org

9 About CEED Centre for Environment and Energy development (CEED) is a solution-driven non-profit organization that works towards creating inspiring solutions to maintain a healthy, rich and diverse environment. CEED is dedicated to finding solutions for climate and energy, hazardous free future and for clean and safe water. The idea of CEED was conceived by a group of young professionals with vast amount of experience in the field of environment. CEED was registered in November 212 as non profit organization under section 25, Companies Act, Contact: A1-248,Second floor Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi , India B/194,Second floor Shri Krishna Puri, Patna India Flat no. 9, G&H, Sail City, Sector 2, Dhurwa, Ranchi- 8344, India Visit: Write to us at info@ceedindia.org