Chennai: According to the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, when measuring ambient air quality from 8 am on January 13 to 8 am on January 14, it was found that the minimum in Annanagar was 131 (moderate level) and the maximum was 270 (bad level) in Valasarawak.
In a press release issued by the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board in this regard, “During the Bogi festival, city dwellers have a habit of burning plastic items like rubber tires, tubes, mats, wires etc. In the presence of high humidity and low temperature, the fires lit by the residents cause smog, which causes various health hazards. In addition , causing great inconvenience and disruption to motorists.
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board launched an awareness campaign on January 11 through all print, electronic and other social media in Metropolitan Chennai Corporation and all district headquarters of Tamil Nadu to avoid the dangers of burning plastic and rubber products. In order to monitor the ambient air quality in 15 zones of the Metropolitan Chennai Corporation, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board conducted 24-hour air quality monitoring before Bogi (Jan. 10 to Jan. 11) and on Bogi day (Jan. 13 to Jan. 14).
An air quality index of 0 to 50 is good. This will cause minimal health effects. An Air Quality Index of 51 to 100 is a satisfactory level. Due to this, there is a possibility of respiratory problems in people who are easily sick. An air quality index of 101 to 200 is moderate pollution. This can cause breathing problems in people with lung disease (asthma), heart disease, and in children and the elderly.
An air quality index of 201 to 300 is the worst level. Due to this, it will cause respiratory problems for those who continuously consume the polluted air and more problems for those who already have heart disease. An air quality index of 301 to 400 is the worst level. Due to this, people who continuously consume polluted air will suffer from respiratory diseases, and it will cause serious consequences for people with heart and lung diseases. An Air Quality Index of 401 to 500 is hazardous level. As a result, the Air Quality Index in India has been classified as a risk factor for respiratory diseases in otherwise healthy people, and severe consequences for people with lung/cardiovascular disease.
According to the report of the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board laboratory, the following findings were observed. According to this study, from 8 am on January 13 to 8 am on January 14, the ambient air quality was measured, and the amount of sulfur-dioxide and nitrogen oxide in the air was 80 micrograms (24-hour average) in all 15 zones. / was subjected to cubic meters.
The amount of particulate matter in the air (PM2.5) ranged from a minimum of 52 micrograms/cubic meter to a maximum of 111 micrograms/cubic meter. The determined PM2.5 24-hour average quality level was 60 micrograms/cubic meter. Also, the amount of particulate matter (PM10) in the air ranged from a minimum of 118 micrograms/cubic meter to 289 micrograms/cubic meter. The prescribed PM10 24-hour average quality level is 100 micrograms/cubic meter.
The Air Quality Index was found to be a minimum of 131 (moderate) in Annanagar and a maximum of 270 (poor) in Valasaravak. On Pogi Day (Jan 14), flight arrivals and departures were disrupted at the Chennai airport due to high Low humidity leads to low wind speeds and low visibility. But the air quality index value is almost the same when compared to the previous year’s value of bogey day.
Due to the awareness program by Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, other government departments and NGOs, burning of waste materials like rubber tires, tubes, plastic among the public during night patrolling on Bogi Day has reduced drastically. In this regard, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board would like to thank all the Government Departments, NGOs, Resident Welfare Associations, Press and Media and especially the public for their cooperation in celebrating a smoke-free Bogi festival.