The pollution prediction for the Capital doesn’t read good.
Hours of peak pollution will include the intermittent night of November 11 and 12 with the night and early morning being the time when air quality will be at its worst in the Capital.
This has been revealed in the latest data released by the Ministry of Earth Sciences’ SAFAR Air Quality Forecast (Delhi) for Diwali-2015. Explaining the data, Dr. Gufran Beig of SAFAR said, “In all likelihood, air quality during Diwali- 2015 is going to be inferior to that of Diwali-2014 owing to cooler temperature and downward shift of inversion layer.”
He added that as per SAFAR-chemical forecast, Delhi is going to breathe “severely polluted air” at least for a day on 12th November.
SAFAR has observed that this may, in turn, increase the cooling rate further and under this condition particles emitting from firework will sit on water droplets and multiply it resulting in more particles in suspended air itself.
“This process is called secondary particle formation which is likely to happen on 12th and 13th November and making condition congenial for dense haze formation,” said Dr. Beig.
SAFAR scientists explained that the three-day forecast is made out considering that the amount of firecrackers burnt are same as last year. “However, if there is thunderstorm and shower on 11th Nov — whose probability is less —air quality may slightly improve.
“Winter is now set and temperature during Diwali-2015 is going to be colder as compared to last year’s Diwali-2014 period that was in October. There is enough moisture in the air and atmospheric holding capacity is quite high for particles emitting from firecrackers,” explained Dr. Beig.
Meanwhile though firecrackers form a major part of our Diwali celebrations, doctors warn that they are not only harming the environment, but also lead to serious health problems.
“These crackers emit the worst kind of gases and increase the air pollution by 30 per cent. Intoxicated air is not only dangerous for those suffering from pulmonary diseases, but also causes breathing problems to others,” said Dr. Niranjan Naik, senior Oncologist (Surgeon) from Dharamshila Hospital.
“On bursting crackers they emit toxic chemicals and gases that remain suspended for a long time. Breathing such toxic and fine particles in fireworks smog can cause serious health problems such as risk of lung inflammation, asthma attacks and like symptoms,’’ added Dr. Naik.
Physicians have recommended that children, elderly and people with lung or heart disease who are especially sensitive should stay indoors and close the windows to avoid breathing the smoke.
Even people who are healthy may have temporary symptoms such as irritation of the eyes, nose and throat; coughing; phlegm; chest tightness hence should try to stay indoors.
Doctors have recommended that children, elderly and people with lung or heart disease, who are especially sensitive, should stay indoors and close the windows to avoid breathing the smoke