Pune's Air Quality Reaches 'Poor' as the Winter Chill Coupled with Firecrackers Trap Pollution – Everything You Want to Know
The air quality in Pune has seen a significant dip, with the AQI touching 205 and positioning the city in the 'poor' category for the first time since Diwali. This sudden dip in air quality is attributed to a mix of cold weather, increased use of bonfires, and firecracker bursts during post-election celebrations on Sunday morning, said experts.
Winter came, and temperatures went low. Bonfires became a common feature in many residential areas of Pune to keep people warm. Firecrackers during celebrations and use of bonfires do their part to release gigantic mounts of particulate matter (PM) into the atmosphere that further degrade the quality of the air. But the one reason contributing to this situation is the meteorological phenomenon- temperature inversion.
What is Temperature Inversion?
When colder air near the ground gets trapped by warmer air above, pollutants cannot travel upwards and dissipate. This causes lots of pollutants to gather near the surface, creating haze and fog. Air quality is, therefore, worsened because the pollutants are retained at night when temperatures drop further, coupled with low wind speeds that do not facilitate dispersion of the pollutants.
Causes of the Poor Quality of Air in Pune
Several contributing factors have led to Pune's worsening air quality, including:
Bonfires: With temperatures plummeting, many residents relied on bonfires to stay warm, releasing particulate matter into the air.
Election Celebrations: Firecrackers were set off during post-election celebrations early Sunday morning, contributing significantly to the rise in pollution levels.
Cold Weather: The chilly temperatures have caused discomfort and trapped pollutants close to the ground, exacerbating the smog.
Health Advisory for Pune Residents
When the air quality index falls in the 'poor' category, people are asked to minimize outdoor activities, especially in the morning and evening when levels of pollutants are most reported. People who have respiratory disease, children, and elders should avoid going outside or put on a N95 mask to reduce their intake of harmful air pollutants.
The health impacts of the pollution are mitigated by authorities through the use of air purifiers inside homes as well as a healthy diet.
Local authorities appeal
While the air quality is likely to improve as temperatures go up during the day, constant cold weather combined with pollution might continue to affect Pune's air quality for the next few days. Local authorities are appealing to the residents to consider cleaner alternatives in heating and eco-friendly ways of celebrating to reduce further pollution.