Telangana State Pollution Control Board is regularly monitoring the Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) with respect to the particulate matter, gases and noise levels in the city and at various places in the state of Telangana.
The Central Pollution Control Board has issued directions for monitoring of the Particulate matter of size less than 2.5 and 10 microns, gaseous parameters of SO2, NOx and Noise levels in the ambient air. The monitoring is being carried out as per the directions given by the CPCB based on the Hon’Ble Supreme Court Orders. The special purpose (Diwali) AAQ monitoring is being carried out from 20th October, 2019 to till date and will be continued up to 3rd November, 2019. The Noise level monitoring is carried out through 10 real time noise monitoring stations. As instructed by CPCB the data of the 26thOctober is taken as pre-diwali data and that of the 27th October as Diwali data.
Meteorological parameters:
The transport and the diffusion of the air pollutant depends upon the dynamics of the atmosphere. The wind plays the major role in the transportation and diffusion of the pollutants. The gaseous waste or the smoke is taken away or diluted by the wind. The stronger the wind, greater will be the dilution of pollutant. On the other hand, stable air discourages the dispersion and the diffusion of the pollutants. Hence, the Air Pollution data has to be seen in conjunction with the meteorological data.
The average wind speed of Hyderabad in general is 2.8mts/sec, however on 27-10-2019 the wind speed on an average is around 0.5mtrs/sec indicating poor dispersion. During the last year the wind speed is about 1.6mtrs/sec. Relative humidity is about 75%.
Particulate Matter:
PM 2.5: Particulate Matter of size less than 2.5 Microns.
PM10: Particulate Matter of size less than 10 Microns.
Parameter | 2018 | 2019 | Remarks | ||
Normal | Diwali | Normal | Diwali | ||
PM2.5 in ug/m3 Standard 24 hours average – 60 | 59 | 95 | 22 | 71.6 | On Diwali day the concentration of the PM2.5 increased by three times and that of the PM10 by twice when compared to normal day.
|
PM10 in ug/m3
Standard 24 hours average – 100 |
104 | 140 | 85 | 163.4 |
The data of the CAAQMS on the diwali day for the years 2014 to2019 indicates decreasing trend of PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in Hyderabad city.
Fig 1: Average Concentrations of PM10 & PM2.5 in ug/m3 in Hyderabad during Diwali
The hourly average of the CAAQMS data at the six locations during the evening hours on diwali day (27th October, 2019) from 5PM(17.00Hrs) onwards indicate gradual increase in concentrations and also higher contribution to PM2.5.
Time in Hrs. | HCU | Pashamylaram | Sanath nagar | Zoopark | ICRISAT | Bollaram | |||||
PM2.5 | PM10 | PM2.5 | PM10 | PM2.5 | PM2.5 | PM10 | PM2.5 | PM10 | PM2.5 | PM10 | |
17-18 | 14 | 30 | 10 | 25 | 20 | 45 | 77 | 15 | 25 | 23 | 62 |
18-19 | 11 | 27 | 12 | 22 | 140 | 40 | 50 | 13 | 19 | 35 | 56 |
19-20 | 16 | 39 | 15 | 35 | 620 | 74 | 86 | 26 | 30 | 164 | 190 |
20–21 | 72 | 91 | 32 | 43 | 310 | 168 | 193 | 49 | 64 | 274 | 310 |
21- 22 | 68 | 96 | 34 | 46 | 1000 | 163 | 184 | 60 | 78 | 250 | 273 |
22–23 | 139 | 179 | 42 | 68 | 830 | 228 | 256 | 68 | 85 | 442 | 541 |
23–00 | 141 | 171 | 52 | 70 | 560 | 191 | 217 | 140 | 180 | 333 | 393 |
00-01 | 283 | 354 | 44 | 81 | 300 | 72 | 93 | 128 | 171 | 372 | 426 |
01-02 | 310 | 395 | 51 | 68 | 170 | 73 | 95 | 76 | 106 | 372 | 418 |
02-03 | 318 | 400 | – | – | 210 | 60 | 67 | 57 | 97 | 250 | 298 |
03-04 | 310 | 386 | – | – | 100 | 41 | 62 | 94 | 140 | 133 | 151 |
04-05 | 133 | 173 | – | – | 80 | 63 | 83 | 99 | 140 | 53 | 70 |
05-06 | 49 | 82 | – | – | 40 | 47 | 66 | 83 | 146 | 40 | 66 |
The AQI at the CAAQMS at the monitored stations is as follows:
Location | Air Quality Index (AQI) |
Bollarum | 300 |
ICRISAT | 68 |
Sanath nagar | 361 |
Zoo park | 113 |
Pashamylaram | 40 |
HCU | 170 |
AQI | Remark | Color Code | Possible Health Impacts | |
0-50 | Good | Minimal impact | ||
51-100 | Satisfactory | Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people | ||
101-200 | Moderate | Breathing discomfort to the people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases | ||
201-300 | Poor | Breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure | ||
301-400 | Very Poor | Respiratory illness on prolonged exposure | ||
401-500 | Severe | Affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases |
Gaseous Parameters: The gaseous parameters are within the limits though the concentrations have moderately increased.
Parameter | 2018 | 2019 | ||
Normal | Diwali | Normal | Diwali | |
Sulphur dioxide (SO2)in ug/m3 Standard 24 hours average – 80 ug/m3 | 6.5 | 7.6 | 4.0 | 6.0 |
Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx)in ug/m3 Standard 24 hours average – 80 ug/m3 | 35 | 43.5 | 46 | 65 |
Noise Levels: The Noise levels are being monitored in and around city at 10 locations through continuous Real Time Noise monitoring stations that capture data at regular intervals.
Area and number of stations | 2018 in dB Leq | 2019 in dB Leq | Standards in dB Leq | |||||||
Normal
01-11-2018 |
Diwali
07-11-2018 |
Normal
26-10-2019 |
Diwali
27-10-2019 |
|||||||
Day | Night | Day | Night | Day | Night | Day | Night | Day | Night | |
Industrial(2) | 73 | 70 | 71 | 66 | 70 | 66 | 64 | 71 | 75 | 70 |
Commercial(4) | 71 | 68 | 71 | 68 | 72 | 67 | 72 | 70 | 65 | 55 |
Residential(3) | 59 | 53 | 64 | 57 | 63 | 60 | 69 | 64 | 55 | 45 |
Sensitive(1) | 55 | 50 | 57 | 60 | 54 | 51 | 59 | 55 | 50 | 40 |
Day time average (06.00Hrs to 22.00Hrs)
Night time average (22.00Hrs to 06.00Hrs)
The noise levels have increased marginally in residential and sensitive areas.