Mangaluru: A scientific study of pollution conducted by the city based Anti-Pollution Drive (APD) Foundation has revealed that period covering Diwali was largely pollution free in Mangaluru. The study, which was conducted over four days covering pre and post Diwali period, has confirmed vehicular and industrial pollution as the larger threat to citizen’s health.

APD Foundation conducted the multi-location study in association with St. George’s Homeopathy. The samples for the study were collected at Alvares Road in Kadri, The Gokarnatheshwara Temple Dwara in Kudroli, Land Link Township in Konchady and Pai Compound in Urva Stores. The drive was carried out on four days starting from 16th & 17th October (days prior to Diwali), 18 October (day of Diwali) and 19 October (day after Diwali). ‘One Earth Enviro Labs’ a specialized laboratory was engaged for collecting the data and analysing the values.

This study had become significant after the apex court banning a few types of firecrackers keeping in view the noise and air pollution during Diwali. The results of the technical analysis reveal no significant increase in pollution during Diwali. “As seen from the values of both ambient air quality and noise levels the city in the test report, it appears that the city has celebrated Diwali in a responsible way and it could be much better in the coming years,” says Abdullah A. Rehman, Founder of APD Foundation.

He attributes different reasons for the positive result of the study. “This Diwali lot of people had taken an informed decision to avoid bursting firecrackers as we are coming to terms with its hazardous effect on our health and the environment. There is also the fact that Mangaluru being a coastal city, the sea breeze tends to neutralise some of the particulate matter in the ambient air quality segment,” he said.

This study was undertaken by APDF to also correlate its previous Shuddha Gaali study which was piloted to emphasize the contribution of transport pollution and smoke emitting vehicles. This research determines polluting vehicles still remain the maximum polluting factor in our community. Like how each Government is focusing on making our festivals safe, it should also focus on strict regulations on smoke emitting vehicles to control and reduce pollution.

The report collated by the One Earth Enviro Labs, in respect to air quality has indicated that the sample taken on 16 October (pre Diwali) at Kudroli Dwara was 55.99 against a standard Particulate matter of 60 at 2.5 micrometer (PM 2.5) on the scale. On another scale of particulate matter with larger diameter (PM 10) has recorded 71.74 against standard value of 100. However, there has been a significant increase in Suspended Particulate matter in the post diwali period at 327.04 SPM (Suspended Particulate Matter) against 269.58 SPM in the pre diwali at this location. Though the Sulphur Oxides were Below Detectable Levels (BDL) the Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) had spiked to 10.13 from the pre diwali value of 9.67 which is a marginal increase considering the standard value levels at 80.

Alvares Road, Kadri recorded less PM 2.5 at 40.99 on post Diwali against the pre diwali value of 49.99. At PM 10 the there was a surge from 78.70 to 83.37. At this location the Sulphur Oxides recorded 7.21 while the Nitrogen Oxides was below detectable Levels on pre diwali sample but it was 12.89 on post diwali sample. On the SPM front, Alvares Road recorded the least surge from 26.35 to 59.7 in the two sample periods respectively.

The Land Links Township at Konchady was no different than the other areas in measurement of air quality during the pre and post Diwali. At PM 2.5 the township recorded 37.49 and 24.25 respectively. At PM 10, the township experienced a marginal increase at 59.22 from 56.28. The NOx also saw a surge from 9.67 to 16.72 which is the highest in this bracket among all samples. SPM levels had gone down from 84.94 to 55.87 in the pre and post Diwali respectively.

At Pai Compound Urva Stores, the values varied on even lines. The PM 2.5 showed a decrease in the post Diwali period at 37.99 from 49.49. At PM 10 the values nosedived to 69.71 from 96.44. The NOx levels however surged from 9.00 to 16.19. The SPM levels also increased relatively from 14.72 to 26.39 during the two sampling periods respectively.

The sampling study did not indicate the presence of lead and except at Alvares Road Kadri in post Diwali period, all the other locations the SOx was below detectable levels. The ambient air quality tests were conducted as per the National Ambient Air Quality standards.

Even on the noise pollution front during the Diwali, the city recorded an average noise pollution levels at 57.42 dB (pre diwali) against the standard limit of 60 prescribed by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). An average marginal increase of 4.75 decibels was recorded post Diwali at the four mentioned sampling locations. The average noise level in the city on 18 and 19 October 2017 is said to be 62.17 decibels, just 2.17 decibels more than the permissible limits.

The lowest post Diwali noise level was recorded at Alvares Road in Kadri at 59.3 decibels during peak hours while Land Links Township in Konchadi saw the highest level at 64.7 during the same period.