More toxic compounds in Mumbai air

Cancer lurks in the air that Mumbai breathes. Data that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has come up with in its latest environmental status report indicates that levels of potent carcinogenic compounds in the air have jumped drastically compared to last year.
A study carried out at six air monitoring stations - Worli, Khar, Andheri, Bhandup, Borivli and Maravli (near Kurla) - has given enough cause for concern.
The annual range of benzo (a) pyrene, a polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), a potent carcinogenic compound found in coal tar, automobile exhaust fumes (especially diesel engines) and all smoke from combustion of organic material, increased to the range of 0.13g/1000m3 to 0.54g/1000, from last year's range of 0.03g/1000m3 to 0.33g/1000m3. Worse, annual range of other PAHs - phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene and benz (a) anthracene, have also seen a significant jump compared to last year.
A vast number of studies over the previous three decades have documented links between PAH compounds and cancers.
The Environmental Status Report (ESR) to be released by the BMC next week says the end of the rains will bring even worse news for people suffering from diseases of the respiratory tract as the weather will be largely dry from October till February.
"Dispersion of pollutants is now high due to turbulence and rains. However, all that changes with the end of the monsoon," the report said. With a daily 5.10% increase in vehicles in the city, suspended particulate matter (SPM), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels have increased to a range of between 22% to 187% as compared to 14% to 158% last year.
The report attributes the phenomenon to rise in vehicles and construction activities, among other factors.
Cardiologist Dr Sandip Rane said any exposure to such particles can be extremely hazardous to the human body. "Exposure to the particles cause cancer of the lungs and blood. It also causes bone marrow suppression. Depending on the size of the particulate matter, chronic respiratory problems are also reported. The tinier the particles, the more chronic is the problem,'' he said.
As far as the quality of ambient air is concerned, the report points out that of the six air monitoring stations, Andheri and Borivali recorded highest levels of NO2 and dust particles.
Three traffic junctions where pollution levels were separately tested, Worli, Wadala and Andheri, witnessed a drastic rise in respirable suspended particulates and NO2.
The impact of these pollutants on health is severe. A significant percentage of people surveyed in five city pockets complained they were suffering from diseases of the respiratory tract or other air pollution-linked problems (like irritation in the eyes). ENT surgeon Dr Juthika Sheode of LH Hiranandani Hospital said that pollution causes allergic rhinitis, sinusitis and nasal polyps. "This condition further leads to pharangytis, bronchitis and asthma,'' she said.
The health survey (to find out the incidence of respiratory diseases) was done in five neighbourhoods in Colaba, Parel, Wadala, Versova and Bhandup.