A primary cause, the study has shown, is how meteorological factors play a key role in air pollution levels, especially in Delhi-NCR region
Topics
Delhi-NCR | air pollution
IANS |
Last Updated at December 21, 2021 14:50 IST
Preliminary data from a month-long experiment has shown that indoor air pollution levels were nearly half of the outdoor levels in Delhi-NCR during November-December so far.
A primary cause, the study has shown, is how meteorological factors play a key role in air pollution levels, especially in Delhi-NCR region.
Two sensor-based air quality monitors and data loggers installed in Delhi’s Dwarka revealed that diurnal variation, where air pollution levels usually peak in evening and early morning hours, is missing from indoor air pollution levels, highlighting the effects of meteorology in outdoor air pollution.
The experiment is part of an ongoing project by Professor S.K. Dhaka from Rajdhani college, University of Delhi; Dr Vivek Panwar from Rajdhani College and Earth Root Foundation, and Professor S. Hayashida and Y. Matsumi from the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto, Japan.
Between November 15 and December 15, two Compact and Useful PM2.5 Instruments (CUPI), which are compact size smart sensors fabricated by Nagoya University and produced by Panasonic, Japan, were installed on the first floor of a building in Sector 4, Dwarka to measure indoor and outdoor PM 2.5. The sensors estimate the total volume of PM 2.5 by measuring counts and intensities of scattering signals from single particles. The sensors were installed in a semi-ventilated home with no air purifiers, a release from the researchers said on Tuesday.
Month-long observations revealed that during the highly polluted period in Delhi-NCR, indoor air was much safer than outdoor on most of the days. Indoor PM 2.5 levels remained low throughout day and night, nearly half as compared to outdoor levels for most of the experiment.
In two examples of 24-hours observations at a high resolution of 10 seconds on November 25 and December 2, outdoor PM 2.5 peak values touched 500-600 microgram/metre cube, which falls in the hazardous category. Though lower than the outdoor values, it is seen that indoor values of PM 2.5 have shown a range of 10 per cent to 60 per cent on different days.
Other striking features that are revealed in the data are that diurnal variation in the indoor PM 2.5 is missing. “PM 2.5 usually declines in the afternoon. But this is completely missing in the case of indoor air pollution. This is a unique characteristic of PM 2.5 observed by the smart sensors. It shows how meteorological factors play an important role in air pollution levels,” said Prof SK Dhaka.
Peaks or lows in air pollution are seen when meteorological parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature or humidity are favourable or unfavourable, the release added.
–IANS
niv/dpb
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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A primary cause, the study has shown, is how meteorological factors play a key role in air pollution levels, especially in Delhi-NCR region Topics Delhi-NCR | air pollution IANS | New Delhi Last Updated at December 21, 2021 14:50 IST Preliminary data from a month-long experiment has shown that indoor air pollution levels were nearly half of the outdoor levels in Delhi-NCR during November-December so far. A primary cause, the study has shown, is how meteorological factors play a key role in air pollution levels, especially in Delhi-NCR region. Two sensor-based air quality monitors and data loggers installed in Delhi’s Dwarka revealed that diurnal variation, where air pollution levels usually peak in evening and early morning hours, is missing from indoor air pollution levels, highlighting the effects of meteorology in outdoor air pollution. The experiment is part of an ongoing project by Professor S.K. Dhaka from Rajdhani college, University of Delhi; Dr Vivek Panwar from Rajdhani College and Earth Root Foundation, and Professor S. Hayashida and Y. Matsumi from the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature (RIHN), Kyoto, Japan. Between November 15 and December 15, two Compact and Useful PM2.5 Instruments (CUPI), which are compact size smart sensors fabricated by Nagoya University and produced by Panasonic, Japan, were installed on the first floor of a building in Sector 4, Dwarka to measure indoor and outdoor PM 2.5. The sensors estimate the total volume of PM 2.5 by measuring counts and intensities of scattering signals from single particles. The sensors were installed in a semi-ventilated home with no air purifiers, a release from the researchers said on Tuesday. Month-long observations revealed that during the highly polluted period in Delhi-NCR, indoor air was much safer than outdoor on most of the days. Indoor PM 2.5 levels remained low throughout day and night, nearly half as compared to outdoor levels for most of the experiment. In two examples of 24-hours observations at a high resolution of 10 seconds on November 25 and December 2, outdoor PM 2.5 peak values touched 500-600 microgram/metre cube, which falls in the hazardous category. Though lower than the outdoor values, it is seen that indoor values of PM 2.5 have shown a range of 10 per cent to 60 per cent on different days. Other striking features that are revealed in the data are that diurnal variation in the indoor PM 2.5 is missing. “PM 2.5 usually declines in the afternoon. But this is completely missing in the case of indoor air pollution. This is a unique characteristic of PM 2.5 observed by the smart sensors. It shows how meteorological factors play an important role in air pollution levels,” said Prof SK Dhaka. Peaks or lows in air pollution are seen when meteorological parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, temperature or humidity are favourable or unfavourable, the release added. –IANS niv/dpb(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor