Lucknow's air more polluted than it was in previous years

LUCKNOW: Air pollution in Lucknow has increased this year. If pre-monsoon assessment of the ambient air quality of Lucknow, released by the Indian Institute of Toxicology Research on World Environment Day is any indication, the concentration of gaseous pollutants-sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) have shown an increasing trend at all the residential areas. Similarly, the respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) level at all residential, commercial and industrial areas were higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

Barring industrial areas, noise level at all locations during the day and night time showed higher level than their respective permissible limits.

In the residential areas, higher concentration was detected in Vikasnagar and Indiranagar, whereas lower values were observed in Aliganj and Gomtinagar compared to the previous years' data. Among the commercial areas, PM10 showed decreasing trend except at Charbagh as compared to last year's data. Amausi too showed lower value of PM10, as compared to last year. But, all the values of PM10 were higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS).

Higher concentration of sulphur dioxide (SO2) was found at all residential areas, which were monitored by IITR. Among the commercial areas, sulphur dioxide showed increasing trend at all places except Alambagh. The industrial area of Amausi also showed higher concentration of SO2, when compared to last year's figures.

Similarly, in case of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), all the residential, commercial and industrial areas showed higher concentration of NOx, when compared to the previous year. All the values of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) were found to be lower than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards.

On the day time noise level front, all residential areas showed a slight increase over the previous years except Vikasnagar. In commercial cum traffic areas, noise level was found comparatively lower than last year's figures. Even the industrial area of Amausi recorded lower nosie level compared to last year. In night time noise level, residential, commercial and industrial areas showed rise over the previous year.

The day also witnessed the XVII Dr CR Krishna Murti Memorial Oration by professor Virender Singh Chauhan, director of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology on 'Designed peptide nanosystems: Vehicles for targeted and tumour drug delivery'.