Mumbai reeled under above normal PM10 levels on 49 out of the 89 days — at least 55 per cent — between February and April, as per data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
According to the data, the PM10 levels breached the standards of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) on these 49 days.
Records showed that the highest brunt was faced by Deonar, Bandra Kurla Complex and Chakala in Andheri East, where the monthly average of PM10 exceeded the safe standard consistently during the three-month period.
The data, analysed by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) and released on Wednesday, showed that the monthly average of PM10 — a particulate matter that is 10 micrometres or smaller —remained high between February and March, while a small improvement was observed in April.
According to the CPCB standards, 100 micrograms per cubic metre (µg/m3) is considered the normal standard measurement for PM 10.
However, in February, the average PM10 levels in Mumbai touched 130 µg/m3, while in March, the average touched 108 µg/m3.
According to the data, while the PM10 levels remained high on all 28 monitored days in February. In March, the average PM10 levels breached the standard mark on at least 17 of 31 days. April, however, fared better with the PM10 levels breaching the normal levels on only four out of 30 days, with the average PM10 level hovering around 78 µg/m3.
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During the three-month period analysed, it was observed that Deonar was among the worst hit pockets with the average PM10 crossing 225 micrograms per cubic metre in February.
PM 10 is harmful to health because they are easily inhalable, due to being tiny, and can settle in the lungs. Besides triggering respiratory and cardiovascular problems, these particles are detrimental, particularly for persons ailing with asthma, as well as children and the elderly.
In Mumbai, emissions from the combustion of gasoline, oil, diesel fuel or wood produce much of the PM2.5 pollution found in outdoor air, as well as a significant proportion of PM10.
PM10 also includes dust from construction sites, landfills and waste burning, industrial sources, wind-blown dust from open lands, pollen and fragments of bacteria.
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Even as the PM10 breached the safety limits, records showed that PM2.5 remained within the permissible norms.
