It was a bitter sweet Diwali this year for the environment in Coimbatore as Noise and Air pollutions saw mixed shifts in gear with the latter going beyond control during the festival of lights.
Joining with the rising national trend – that too despite an alleged dip in cracker sales – the city saw air pollution level increase up to 72 per cent on Wednesday. Ironically, noise pollution was well under control.
According to Scientific Officers at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in Coimbatore, the Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) study has revealed the level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) ,otherwise known as PM10, to be between the ranges of 68 and 172 micro gram/metric cube (mg/m3) during Diwali. The level of PM10 notched only upto 130 mg/m3 last year.
While the standard level of PM10 is 100 mg/m3, the pre-Diwali survey has revealed the level to be between the ranges of 34 and 57 mg/m3 on the 12th of October, which is below the standard range.
The study was carried out on two dates as pre - Diwali and Diwali studies in three stations including AAQ stations in PSG College of Arts and Science in Sitra, District Collectorate and Goundampalayam. The data was collected in two different shifts i.e, 6.00 am to 6.00 pm and 6.00 pm to 6.00 am on both the days.
Even as the air quality is worsening, for various reasons, noise pollution was well under control during Diwali. The Ambient Noise Level (ANL) survey carried out in two different stations in the City has revealed the level of noise pollution to be 71.9 DeciBels (dBA) on Diwali.
The range was well under the allowed dBA standard, which is 125 and the pre – Diwali dBA level was 61.7 on 12th of October. Two stations were selected for the study -- in PSG College of Arts and Science and District Collectorate..
Dipped cracker sales during the season because of spike in prices is believed to have contributed to the controlled noise pollution levels.
Joining with the rising national trend – that too despite an alleged dip in cracker sales – the city saw air pollution level increase up to 72 per cent on Wednesday. Ironically, noise pollution was well under control.
According to Scientific Officers at the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) in Coimbatore, the Ambient Air Quality (AAQ) study has revealed the level of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) ,otherwise known as PM10, to be between the ranges of 68 and 172 micro gram/metric cube (mg/m3) during Diwali. The level of PM10 notched only upto 130 mg/m3 last year.
While the standard level of PM10 is 100 mg/m3, the pre-Diwali survey has revealed the level to be between the ranges of 34 and 57 mg/m3 on the 12th of October, which is below the standard range.
The study was carried out on two dates as pre - Diwali and Diwali studies in three stations including AAQ stations in PSG College of Arts and Science in Sitra, District Collectorate and Goundampalayam. The data was collected in two different shifts i.e, 6.00 am to 6.00 pm and 6.00 pm to 6.00 am on both the days.
Even as the air quality is worsening, for various reasons, noise pollution was well under control during Diwali. The Ambient Noise Level (ANL) survey carried out in two different stations in the City has revealed the level of noise pollution to be 71.9 DeciBels (dBA) on Diwali.
The range was well under the allowed dBA standard, which is 125 and the pre – Diwali dBA level was 61.7 on 12th of October. Two stations were selected for the study -- in PSG College of Arts and Science and District Collectorate..
Dipped cracker sales during the season because of spike in prices is believed to have contributed to the controlled noise pollution levels.