Ozone pollution adds to summer woe
25 May 2013 5:16 AM IST
There is more to the sizzling heat in Delhi than rising temperatures. Scientists have found unusually high levels of toxic ozone in the city in the past two weeks.
Gufran Beig of Pune’s Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) said breathing elevated ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion.
‘It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. Ground level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissues,’ he said.
Sunil Peshin, in-charge of SAFAR, said pollution along with strong sunshine produces ozone at the ground level.
‘Ozone is emitted by a range of human activities including transportation. If current extreme weather condition prevailed for longer time, it can increase toxic ozone production,’ said Peshin.
Exposure to high levels of ozone induces adverse effects not only on health but damages vegetation and eco-systems, according to scientists.
'Delhi's air is known to get polluted mainly due to the rise in particulate matters which can be felt when visibility becomes poor on extreme days,' said Beig and warned that ozone pollution is likely to go up and touch a level of 120 ppb (parts per billion) on 26 May against the permissible limit of 50 ppb.
Gufran Beig of Pune’s Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) said breathing elevated ozone can trigger a variety of health problems including chest pain, coughing, throat irritation and congestion.
‘It can worsen bronchitis, emphysema and asthma. Ground level ozone also can reduce lung function and inflame the linings of the lungs. Repeated exposure may permanently scar lung tissues,’ he said.
Sunil Peshin, in-charge of SAFAR, said pollution along with strong sunshine produces ozone at the ground level.
‘Ozone is emitted by a range of human activities including transportation. If current extreme weather condition prevailed for longer time, it can increase toxic ozone production,’ said Peshin.
Exposure to high levels of ozone induces adverse effects not only on health but damages vegetation and eco-systems, according to scientists.
'Delhi's air is known to get polluted mainly due to the rise in particulate matters which can be felt when visibility becomes poor on extreme days,' said Beig and warned that ozone pollution is likely to go up and touch a level of 120 ppb (parts per billion) on 26 May against the permissible limit of 50 ppb.
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