Morung Express News
Dimapur | May 15
Pollution level in the Nagaland State Capital city, Kohima, is increasing at an alarming rate, according to the latest urban air quality database, ‘Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database’ (updated 2016), which was released by World Health Organisation (WHO) on May 12.
Kohima is one of the cities whose pollution level has drastically worsened since the last report in 2014, the WHO report indicated. This calls for serious attention from the State Government as well as the public before it turns into a grave public health concern.
In 2104 database, Kohima’s PM (particulate matter) 10 level was at 64 but it rose to 82 in 2016. Most alarmingly, the PM2.5 particles, which WHO says, carries the most health risk has nearly doubled in the intervening period – increasing from 28 (2014) to 44 (2016).
Dimapur saw slight improvement in PM10 (falling from 92 to 90). However, its PM2.5 level increased during the intervening period from 40 to 48.
Among the cities in North East India, Sibsagar in Assam remains the most polluted both in terms of PM2.5 and PM10 levels at 109 and 58 respectively while Guwahati and Silchar are ranked 2nd and 3rd. In PM2.5 level, Guwahati was ranked second at 49 while Dimapur and Silchar occupy the third slot at 48.
Globally, urban air pollution levels have increased by 8%, despite improvements in some regions, the WHO database, which covered 3000 cities/town in 103 countries, reported. More than 80% of people living in urban areas that monitor air pollution are exposed to air quality levels that exceed WHO limits, it stated.
According to the WHO, air quality is represented by annual mean concentration of particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5, i.e. particles smaller than 10 or 2.5 microns). It includes pollutants such as sulfate, nitrates and black carbon, which penetrate deep into human body which penetrate deep into the lungs and into the cardiovascular system, posing the greatest risks to human health.
As urban air quality declines, the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory diseases, including asthma, increases for the people who live in them, WHO said.
As per WHO’s Air quality guidelines, the threshold and limits value for a particulate matter are 20 μg/m3 for PM10, and 10 μg/m3 for PM2.5.
The Guidelines indicated that by reducing particulate matter (PM10) pollution from 70 to 20 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m), air pollution-related deaths could be reduced by roughly 15%.
Zabol, in Iran replaced Delhi’s position as the most polluted global city in terms of PM2.5. However, this is no consolation since 10 Indian cities figure in the top 20 most polluted city in the world.
WHO in its database report had maintained that while most sources of urban outdoor air pollution are well beyond the control of individuals, it demands action by cities, as well as national and international policymakers to promote cleaner transport, more efficient energy production and waste management.
“It is crucial for city and national governments to make urban air quality a health and development priority,” said Dr. Carlos Dora, WHO Coordinator of Interventions for Healthy Environment in a statement.
Meanwhile, WHO said its Member States would discuss a road map for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution during the World Health Assembly scheduled from May 23-28.
