This Deepavali, less pollution, more noise
City wittnesses drastic fall in RSPM as compared to previous years
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-11-12 07:54 GMT
Chennai: The unprecedented rainfall might have kept the air pollution levels under check on Deepavali day, but failed to mitigate the noise levels. According to the preliminary data released by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB), there is a drastic fall in RSPM (respirable suspended particulate matter) across the city compared to previous years. Officials say this would probably be the lowest ever recorded on Deepavali day.
Triplicane recorded 90 RSPM, while Besant Nagar registered 88 RSPM, Sowcarpet 93. The highest pollution was recorded in Nungambakkam followed by commercial hub T. Nagar recording 131 and 126 RSPM respectively. However, compared to normal days, this deepavali too saw double the pollution. The prescribed RSPM standard is 100 microgram per cubic meter.
Meanwhile, the gaseous pollutants like sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were well within prescribed standards in all the places where TNPCB carried out the study. The only area that still concerns the regulatory body is the noise pollution. Compared to last year, there is not much difference. In fact, the usually quiet Besant Nagar recorded the highest decibel levels with 83 dB(A), much higher than the tolerable level of 75dB(A). In 2014, the area recorded 73 dB(A). The permissible limit is 55dB(A) during the day and 45dB(A) at night in residential areas. Triplicane and T. Nagar registered 81 dH(A) in the noise meter, while Nungambakkam and Sowcarpet made less noise compared to previous year registering 79 and 77 dH(A) respectively.
Fewer festival burns cases this year:
Thanks to torrential rains as well as increased awareness among the people, Deepavali this year saw fewer cases of eye injuries or burns in the city. The heavy rains apart, awareness on the precautions to be taken during the festival led to lesser cases as compared to last year.
“We have seen 15 cases of eye related problems due to cracker fire this time compared to 30 last year and about 125 - 150 in 2013. All of them were superficial burns that required only medical treatment and not surgical intervention,” says Dr S. Soundari, chief consultant, Dr Agarwal eye hospital, on Wednesday.
About seven persons were admitted to the special burns ward with 15 beds that has been established at the Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital (KMCH) to attend to patients suffering from burns during Deepavali. On Wednesday six more persons were admitted. The Deepavali evening was less foggy. “It was not so foggy as it was last year and even the environment pollution appeared to be less this time,” Dr Soundari added and indicated that the torrential rains have saved scores of eyes during the celebration.
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