Odd-Even II: In last two days, ozone levels up in city 

Scientists say the pollutant has consistently spiked with levels ranging between 75 and 80 µg/m3 between April 17 and 19. An initial dip was reported between April 15 and 17, with ozone levels dropping briefly from 80 and 70 µg/m3.

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According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), ozone levels remained high on Monday as well with five of nine stations — including R K Puram, Punjabi Bagh and Anand Vihar — recording ozone as the dominant pollutant.

This year, in R K Puram and Punjabi Bagh, ozone has been recorded as the prominent pollutant for two days — April 17 and 25 for R K Puram, and April 25 for Punjabi Bagh. Last year, only PM 10 and PM 2.5 were recorded as the dominant pollutants in the entire month, according to CPCB. “The formation of ozone is linked to heat. The higher the temperature, the faster it forms,” said a scientist.

According to data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), border areas reported a spike in particulate matter levels Saturday after a slump in both PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels over the last few days. According to DPCC’s spot monitoring data, Anand Vihar border recorded the highest PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels on Saturday at 188 and 373 µg/m3. Levels of the same pollutants 2 km inside and outside the Delhi border were lower.

At the Noida border, levels of particulate matter inside Delhi were higher than areas outside the capital. Areas in the capital near the Noida border recorded PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels at 87 and 180, compared to 74 and 160 inside Noida.

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