Pages: 18-29

Abstract

ABSTRACT: According to a recent WHO report, New Delhi has been classified as having the world’s most polluted air among any other city. The city has experienced a large boom in industrialization and urbanization. People have been negligent of their responsibility towards the onset danger of increasing air pollution. Cases of respiratory diseases are at an all-time high and people are suffering from a wide range of ailments, from Asthma to dust allergies. The SAFAR project undertaken by the Indian Meteorological Department under the aegis of IITM, Pune strives to spread awareness among the general public by monitoring air pollution levels and maintaining a visual representation in the form of an Air Quality Index. In the current study, the pollution levels during the months of November and December, because of relatively more residence time of pollutants, of the years 2012 and 2013 are compared to each other. The sampling is done at Lodhi Road in New Delhi, a serene location flanked by Lodhi gardens and other monuments of historical significance. The area is a hub for institutions and corporate offices. Online monitoring equipment supplied by ThermoFisher Scientific was used to measure levels of PM10, PM2.5, NO, NO2, NOx, CO, CO2, O3. The data thus obtained reveals that pollution levels in 2013 are higher than the previous year’s. The levels are well above the acceptable standards and thus, the problem of air pollution is one that needs to be prioritized.