Cleansed by monsoon rain, air quality improves in major cities
Bhopal: It is the time of the year when people can move out freely without being concerned about air pollution. With good rainfall in several parts of the state, the
Air Quality Index
(AQI) of the major Madhya Pradesh cities improved to 'good category' after raising concerns over the the past two months.
On Wednesday, the AQI for Bhopal, Gwalior and Jabalpur was well below 50 mark while in Indore, it was just three notches above 50.
In Bhopal, the AQI at TT Nagar was low at 48, from a moderate 158 recorded on April 25. In Indore, the AQI came down to 53 from 129 two months ago while in Gwalior it is down at 44 from 92 recorded on April 25. Jabalpur air too improved to 40 from 136 in the duration, as per the data provided by the Central Pollution Control Board.
Air quality is measured by taking into account the levels of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Oxide (NOx), RSPM10, and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air. Of the four, officials said PM2.5 is the most harmful to health since it causes severe lung diseases. PM10 is due to dust and construction, including the building of roads, while PM2.5 is due to dust, human activity, and climatic conditions.
Officials said damaged roads, dust flying due to vehicles, and an increase in construction activities lead to an increase in air pollution levels. Besides, bonfires during winters further add to air pollution.
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