Breathing deadly pollutants

But, the pollution is there on your white shirt everyday. Time was when one could wear a white shirt at least twice before washing. The suspended particulate matter are the most dangerous of the auto-emission pollutants. Vehicular smoke has oxides of nitrogen, phosphate and lead. While the levels of these are manageable in Pune, it is the suspended particulate matter that is cause for serious concern.

The World Health Organisation has laid down guidelines that particulate matter PM that is below 10 microns, should not exceed 100 micrograms per cubic metre, which is dangerous for health. In our city, many areas have this PM 10 that exceeds 300 mcg per cubic metre. The PMs remain suspended in the air unless it rains. So if the PMs are released from auto-emissions from Karve Road, the residents of Prabhat Road will feel its effects. The PM 10 is lethal is because it affects the lungs and the heart. Studies have shown that if a cubic metre of air has more than 10,000 PMs then there is an increase in cardio-respiratory diseases of up to two to three per cent.

The main source of PM 10 is the diesel emissions. If the engine is faulty, its design is incorrect or is not performing well, then there is an increase of PM 10s in its emissions. According to estimates, India will be spending 2 billion dollars on cardio-respiratory diseases caused by PM 10. In 1996, the Pune Municipal Corporation, on our recommendations, had stalled the six-seater diesel rickshaws from plying in the city.

These rickshaws are dangerous because their engines are not made for moving vehicles. Most of them are meant for drawing water from wells. In such circumstances, one can only imagine what these vehicles are capable of doing to the environment. We need better public transport causing less pollution. But then the problem is manifold. Rickshaws are a cheaper source of commuting and this will prevent the PMC from getting better buses on the roads. But what they sadly don8217;t realise is that they will save now on bus fares, but five years from now pay heavily in terms of medical bills.