Air at Games Village, venues polluted, shows study

NEW DELHI - The quality of air near most of the Commonwealth Games venues and the Village has been found to be below acceptable standards, threatening the health of the athletes and spectators.

Data from the air monitoring stations at 11 key locations set up near the venues and the Games Village show high levels of particulate matter in the air, officials said Monday.

The real-time data from these air quality monitoring stations has been analysed by scientists of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune.

Data show that except two locations, the level of particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) and particulate matter 10 (PM10) is regularly above 200 for most hours of the day. The only exceptions are Major Dhyan Chand Stadium, where the level of particulate matter is below 200, and Talkatora Stadium where the air quality was found acceptable but only during the night.

According to IITM, the range is permissible if the particulate matter falls between 0-100. The air quality is considered average for levels between 100-200, poor between 200-300 and very poor if the level of particulate matter exceeds 300.

Particles in the PM2.5 size range are able to travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Exposure to fine particles can cause eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath. Exposure to fine particles can also affect the lungs and worsen medical conditions such as asthma and heart diseases.

“The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 are poor. It is a cause of concern for us because these are injurious to health,” Gufran Beig, IITM scientist and project director, told IANS.

Scientists are attributing the high level of particulate matter to delayed construction, reduced space on road and pollution from vehicular fumes.

“Had the construction activities near the venues stopped earlier, the levels would have been far better. Now the fine particles are suspended in the air. Even lane driving has lessened the space on roads and many two-wheelers drive off-road, leading to more dust in the atmosphere,” said Beig.

The fluctuation in the day and night temperature is adding to the problem.

“We are observing inversion layer in the atmosphere during the day and night, because of which in the morning a dusty layer envelopes the sky. During the night, the temperature drops and fine particles are suspended in the air. In the day the temperature rises again, leading to suspension of fine particles,” Beig said.

The air quality stations provide information on pollution levels within a four-km radius on an hourly basis and forecast about air quality 24 hours in advance through display panels, which are installed in various parts of the capital.

On the positive side, the levels of ozone, nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide near the venues are within the permissible range, the official said.

“Pollution levels in Delhi can be improved by taking certain preventive measures. Delhi can be a clean and green city,” he added.

After the Games, the IITM will release a report on the pollution levels recorded in the capital during the mega sporting event and will recommend measures that can be taken to make the city air cleaner.

The monitoring stations are part of the System of Air Pollution Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) developed by the IITM at a cost of Rs.100 million ($2 million).

The monitoring system comprises of instruments like ozone and carbon monoxide analysers, particulate matter analysers and real time analysers for recording other pollutants.