More toxic compounds in Mumbai air

BMC Survey Finds Levels Of Cancer Causing Particles Up Due To Rise In Vehicular Pollution & Construction Activities

Sharad Vyas & Sukhada Tatke | TNN

    Cancer lurks in the air that Mumbai breathes. Data that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has come up with in its latest environmental status report indicates that levels of potent carcinogenic compounds in the air have jumped drastically compared to last year.
    A study carried out at six air monitoring stations — Worli, Khar, Andheri, Bhandup, Borivli and Maravli (near Kurla) — has given enough cause for concern.
    The annual range of benzo (a) pyrene, a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), a potent carcinogenic compound found in coal tar, automobile exhaust fumes (especially diesel engines) and all smoke from combustion of organic material, increased to the range of 0.13g/1000m3 to 0.54g/1000, from last year’s range of 0.03g/1000m3 to 0.33g/1000m3. Worse, annual range of other PAHs — phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene and benz (a) anthracene, have also seen a significant jump compared to last year.
    A vast number of studies over the previous three decades have documented links between PAH compounds and cancers.
    The Environmental Status Report (ESR) to be released by the BMC next week says the end of the rains will bring even worse news for people suffering from diseases of the respiratory tract as the weather will be largely dry from October till February.
    “Dispersion of pollutants is now high due to turbulence and rains. However, all that changes with the end of the monsoon,” the report said. With a daily 5.10% increase in vehicles in the city, suspended particulate matter (SPM),
sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) levels have increased to a range of between 22% to 187% as compared to 14% to 158% last year.
    The report attributes the phenomenon to rise in vehicles and construction activities, among other factors.
    Cardiologist Dr Sandip Rane said any exposure to such particles can be extremely hazardous to the human body. “Exposure to the particles cause cancer of the lungs and blood. It also causes bone marrow suppression. Depending on the size of the particulate matter, chronic respiratory problems are also reported. The tinier the particles, the more chronic is the problem,’’ he said.
    As far as the quality of ambient air is concerned, the report points out that of the six air monitoring stations, Andheri and Borivali recorded highest levels of NO 2 and dust particles.
    Three traffic junctions where pollution levels were separately tested, Worli, Wadala and Andheri, witnessed a drastic rise in respirable suspended particulates and NO 2 .
    The impact of these pollutants on health is severe. A significant percentage of people surveyed in five city pockets complained they were suffering from diseases of the respiratory tract or other air pollution-linked problems (like irritation in the eyes). ENT surgeon Dr Juthika Sheode of LH Hiranandani Hospital said that pollution causes allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and nasal polyps. “This condition further leads to pharangytis, bronchitis and asthma,’’ she said.
    The health survey (to find out the incidence of respiratory diseases) was done in five neighbourhoods in Colaba, Parel, Wadala, Versova and Bhandup. WEIGHING DOWN
Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)
The most critical of all air pollutants, SPM is a mix of solid and liquid particles, including dust, sand, smoke, lead, nickel and arsenic Effect | It lodges in lung tissues and causes respiratory problems
Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2 )
Sulphur compounds are present in fossil fuels, their combustion generates sulphur dioxide Effect | SO 2 leads to diseases of the lung and other disorders such as wheezing and shortness of breath
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 )
This reddish-brown toxic gas has a characteristic sharp, biting odor. Its most important sources are internal combustion engines Effect | It can make children susceptible to respiratory diseases, especially in winter
Ammonia (NH 3 )
Ammonia, a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, is a gas with a characteristic pungent odour Effect | It severely affects the respiratory system
Lead
Emissions occur during power generation and through combustion engines Effect | Prolonged exposure can damage the nervous system, cause digestive problems, and in some cases even cancer
Worli
The presence of the seaface were negated by the major traffic junction at Worli. NO 2 rose to 67ug/m3 in 2008-09, which was higher than the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) standards
Khar
The suburb along the sea showed little difference over three years. Ammonia fell from 70 ug/m3 in 2007-08 to 58 ug/m3 in 2008-09, but NO 2 was at 84 ug/m3, double from the previous year’s 47 ug/m3
Andheri
Concentration of impurities increased or registered a very marginal dip. SO 2 rose each year to touch 13 ug/m3 and NO 2 was 86 ug/m3 in 2008-09, SPM fell to 263 ug/m3 from 308 ug/m3 in 2006-07
Bhandup
The eastern suburb fared average, ammonia was at 59 ug/m3 in 2008-09, lead fell marginally to 0.19 ug/m3 in 2008-09 from 0.35 ug/m3 in 2007-08. SPM fell to 206 ug/m3 in 2008-09 from 267 ug/m3 in 2007-08
Borivli
Perhaps due to Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Borivli had the cleanest air. But for NO 2 which rose to 31 ug/m3 in 2008-09 from 17 ug/m3 in 2006-07, others like SO 2 and ammonia were lower
Maravli
This eastern suburb near Kurla recorded the most polluted air of all the six monitoring centres. Ammonia stood at 265 ug/m3 while SPM levels rose to a staggering 389 ug/m3 in 2008-09 (CPCB standards: SO 2 -60; NO 2 -60; Ammonia-100; SPM-140; Lead-0.75)