Continuous air quality monitoring stations to be set up in M'lore

District Environment Officer Rajshekhar Puranik said that proposals have been submitted to the government by the Pollution Control Board towards the establishment of two Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Mangalore.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Pollution awareness week at Regional Office in Mangalore on Monday.The environment officer said that the monitoring stations, check the quality of air for the presence of suspended articles and other pollutants.

Stating that at present there is no continuous monitoring centre in Mangalore but an Ambient Air quality Monitoring station at Baikampadi where quality checking of air is carried out to detect RSPMs (Respirable Suspended Articulate Matters) on three days in a week, round the clock. Also there are two air quality monitoring stations at MRPL and one at MCF. One more station will be commissioned at MSEZ area.

Vehicles contribute 66 per cent to air pollution, which is the highest among all others such as industries, other fuels, etc. The Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen oxide, Sulpher dioxide, ketones, CFCs etc, generated during the combustion of fuels result in acid raids, respiratory disorders and also depletion of ozone layer, he said.

In Mangalore, due to the sea winds and presence of Western Ghats, heavy pollutants such as black suit do not rest at one place and hence is better than Bangalore, where the heavy pollutants are prevalent in the air, causing several problems. Also, the content of Carbon Monoxide in an each cubic meter of air is 8 to 10 mg against the normal quantity of 2 mg.

Regional Transport Officer Afzal Ahmed said that the metropolitan cities have been enlisted in Euro 4 cities category, based on the extent of the emission rate of pollutant gases. Mangalore has been placed in the list of Euro 3 city, he said.

In order to control the pollution caused by vehicles, the Sulpher, Benzene and lead content in Diesel and Petrol are sorted out. The government has also formulated a law towards emission tests, he said.

District Reproductive and Child Health Officer Dr Rukmini M said that the pollution control should be implemented in daily lives.

The noise created by vehicles, which exceeds the limit of 80 decibels may cause hearing disorders and disturb the mental balance, due to the continuous exposure. This bothers not only human beings but also animals.

The inhaling of poisonous gases let out during smoking could bring serious problems such as chronic obstructive lung disease and also lung cancer. Apart from these, there may be cardio vascular diseases as well. Air pollution may also adversely affect the pregnant women, resulting in premature child delivery and disorders in the child, Dr Rukmini said.

Dakshina Kannada Bus owners Association former President Jayaram Sheka presided over. Representatives of auto rickshaw associations also took part.