Ozone concentration alarmingly high in city: CSE study

Already dealing with the high particulate matters in the air, the national capital this summer has witnessed an alarming build-up of ozone, a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) study said on Saturday.

According to the CSE findings, on several occasions and several locations, between February and May 2017, the ozone concentration was found to be very high – 3.4 times the normal standard.

"Early deaths due to ozone pollution are the highest in India. The new burden of disease study by Health Effect Institute has shown that early deaths due to ozone have jumped by 148 per cent in India," it said.

Additional analysis also shows heat waves and sunshine have increased the frequency of days with unhealthy levels of ozone.

Ozone, a more reactive form of oxygen, causes lung-related issues and heavy breathing. According to experts, its not directly emitted but is formed in a reaction between nitrogen oxides emitted from diesel vehicles and hydro-carbons in the presence of sunlight.

Its standards are based on hours – the eight-hour standard concentration is 100 units (microgramme per cubic metre) and one-hour standard is 180 units.

"Without a time-bound implementation strategy and preventive action, this can deepen into serious public health crisis," said Anumita Roychowdhury, head of CSE's air pollution programme.MPOST