Pollution adds to north Chennai’s vulnerability

U.Tejonmayam@timesgroup.com

Chennai:23.04.2020

In North Chennai, which is reporting more Covid-19 cases with respiratory infections, the presence of pollutants could make residents, particularly in high-risk groups, more vulnerable to the disease.

Satellite images captured by researchers of Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) show nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over parts of north Chennai during the first phase of lockdown. Researchers said though levels of NO2, which could be emissions from thermal power plants, may be lower during the lockdown, they still poses risk as the gas converts into PM 2.5 that people may end up inhaling.

NO2 comes mainly from combustion of fossil fuels and from petroleum products.

Analyst Sunil Dahiya, who studied the pollution levels before and during lockdown periods with the images, said the level of NO2 in the north Chennai region was within the limits of the national ambient air quality standards but still risky.

Between March 11 and 24, the levels were between 3.32 ug/m3 and 12.52 ug/m3 at Manali village station and between 7.22 ug/m3 and 19.1 ug/ m3 in Manali. From March 25 to April 7, the levels were between 1.3 ug/m3 and 8.68 ug/m3 in Manali village and between 1.74 ug/m3 and 24.68 ug/m3. National ambient air quality standards say levels of NO2 should be 80 ug/m3 when monitored every 24 hours. However, the Central Pollution Contgrol Board (CPCB) continues to show air quality index in the region as ‘moderate’ and not ‘good’.

The presence of the pollutant in the region comes at a time when studies have found that high levels of air pollution could raise the risk of dying from Covid-19.

Dr Kalpana Balakrishnan, director, ICMR Centre for Advanced Research on Air Quality, Sri Ramachandra Institute for Higher Education and Research, said air pollution may increase the vulnerability of the population to Covid-19 though several other factors like population density in the area and contact with an infected individual are involved. “You cannot directly associate high level of pollution to high level of covid cases because many other factors come into play. But one thing is for sure, both air pollution and all kinds of environmental hazards that predispose you to ill health aregoing to play on the vulnerability of the population.”