Benzene content has exceeded the annual standard of 5 microgram per cubic meter of air
Representational image
Hyderabad: Besides excess particulate matter content, benzene which is carcinogenic has been found to be beyond standard limits in the city’s air. In areas like Punjagutta, Begumpet and other high traffic junctions, the benzene content has exceeded the annual standard of 5 microgram per cubic meter of air.
“This is extremely worrying as benzene, a volatile compound of petrol, is a toxic air pollutant and a potential carcinogenic. It can be extremely harmful even at traces amounts. Being volatile, it contributes towards formation of yet another harmful gas, ozone,” said Mr Sagar Dhara, environmental engineer, who is into risk analysis.
Another environmentalist, Prof. Vijay Gopal said, “The need of the hour is to conduct detailed study, link the various case reports in the city hospitals and study consumption of certain drugs in the city where the pollutants are found in higher levels. But the PCB has no study or data to take action.”
The annual benzene content was found to be 6.5-7 microgram per cubic metre (against the standard 5mg) of air at Punjagutta, Begumpet, and other parts of the city that see frequent traffic bottlenecks. At Zoo Park, Hyderabad Central University at Gachibowli, the benzene content was hovering around 3 microgram per cubic meter of air.
PCB fails to take action:
Vehicular pollution is another aspect that the concerned officials are doing nothing about. Vehicles using adulterated petrol, diesel and naphtha continue to degrade the air quality and it has gone unchecked by authorities attached to the Transport Department for many years now.
The officials meanwhile cite shortage of staff as the reason they are unable to check all vehicles for emission standards. Most of the old two and three wheelers, particularly those that have been using adulterated fuel, are increasing the pollution levels in the city. Some of them use kerosene, which poses grave danger.
A source claimed that every day, thousands of litres of naphtha is being unloaded and distributed to different parts of the city. “Some owners of goods tempos, lorries and old autos are using adulterated fuel resulting in pollution. The practice of mixing kerosene with petrol has not completely come down, and sale of adulterated petrol goes on unhindered in some areas and the RTOs cannot check them due to lack of staff and equipment,” said a source.
“The Bhurelal Committee had suggested that RTO officials should check vehicular emissions to keep the city's pollution under control. As these pollutants are released into the atmosphere, the pollution levels increase,” said a scientist with TSPCB.
( Source : dc correspondent )
Next Story
