More cars on city roads may choke you

LUCKNOW: The past few years have seen more and more fourwheelers and two-wheelers zipping across the city roads. But, surprising as it may sound, this trend may affect our health in the long run. An IITR report on air quality, released on Sunday, claims as much. The Indian Institute of Toxicology Research report says that vehicular increase of 9.23% during 2010-11 is one of the biggest reasons for rising pollution levels in residential, commercial and industrial areas of the city.

The tail pipe emission from vehicles is one of the important source of air pollutants like RSPM, trace metals and gases. The respirable particles are responsible for cardiovascular as well as respiratory diseases. Traffic congestion, encroachment, cleanliness and maintenance of roads, weather, type of fuel and vehicle used, population density, driving habits and topographical influence of the area are other factors contributing to increase of fine particles and RSPM in the air.

The ambient air quality assessment report showed that Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) level at 10 monitoring locations was higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The same was true of fine particles. The rising level of particulate matter in the air is a major concern. Besides, other pollutants like carbon monoxide, ozone and metals like lead and nickel were also found in the air but, to comparatively lesser degree.

"The higher levels of PM could be because of local construction activity," said the report. It also blamed the rapid economic development, industrialisation and higher level of energy consumption for the air pollution.

Further, traffic noise has become a major environmental concern in urban areas witnessing high traffic congestion. Sources of noise in urban areas are primarily vehicular engines, exhaust systems, aerodynamic friction and tyre-pavement interaction.

Traffic noise is affected by factors like traffic volume and speed, vehicle mix, pavement type and vehicle conditions.