Mumbai, February 8: The air quality in some parts of Mumbai worsened on Thursday morning, with the air quality index touching 396-mark. The city woke up to a hazy morning with poor visibility in some areas. As the pollution level spiked, people complained of breathing problems and burning eyes. A quick glance at the Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) on aqicn.org on Thursday showed that that quality in Mumbai US Consulate area was hazardous and recorded air quality index at 396.

It must be noted that an index level between 201 and 300 is categorised as “poor” and higher than 300 is considered hazardous. PM10 levels over 400 affect healthy people while seriously affecting those who already have respiratory illnesses.

Here's the Real-Time Air Quality Index:

AQI in Mumbai on February 8, 2018 (Image: aqicn.org)
AQI in Mumbai on February 8, 2018 (Image: aqicn.org)

When the air quality is hazardous, it is likely that people may experience more serious health effects.  As per details, the air quality index in NMMC Airoli and Navi Mumbai areas was moderate and was recorded at 92. The air quality index in Bandra was 183 which falls under the unhealthy category. The air quality index in Dombivili, Thane and the surrounding areas was 178 which falls under the unhealthy category.

The city has reached the hazardous level as western disturbances pulled in a lot of moisture, which allows pollutants to be suspended close to the earth’s surface.  With the worsening quality of air, Mumbai became more polluted city than the national capital with an average air quality index (AQI) of 275. The average air quality index of Delhi is 211.

Mumbai’s air quality index worsened on Wednesday to levels that the city had not seen since Diwali in October 2017. On Wednesday, haze engulfed the city since morning, and temperatures rose significantly during the day. A thick sheet of clouds covered Mumbai, resulting in obscure sunlight. The combined effect of the cloud density and the dust particles caused low visibility.

Here's the Air Quality Measurement:

Pollution in Mumbai Increases as Air Quality (Image: aqicn.org)

The cities across Mumbai that fell under the very poor category on Wednesday (between 301 and 400) were Mazgaon with 342, Bandra Kurla Complex (327), Bhandup (327), Borivali (319) and Colaba (320). Navi Mumbai is also one location with poor air quality, with an AQI of 309.

India Meteorological Department's Deputy Director General (Western Region) K S Hosalikar was quoted by PTI saying that the suspension of dust particles in air over the city and suburbs, the heavy traffic on roads and construction work at several places were responsible for the poor air quality and the haze. On Wednesday afternoon, all the 10 monitoring stations in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai recorded poor to moderate air quality.  The official further added that the slow winds had caused dust particles to remain suspended for a long time over Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

The suspension of dust particles in air over the city and suburbs, the heavy traffic on roads and construction work at several places were responsible for the poor air quality and the haze, the official said. The haze is also caused due to a lot of vehicular movement and the ongoing infrastructure work in Mumbai.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 08, 2018 01:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).