Are you Suffering from Asthma - Take a Bus and Avoid Rickhaws in Pune

On the World Asthma Day, a message for the daily commuters in Pune, by a team of researchers from Chest Research Foundation.

Gridded Vehicle Exhaust Emissions in Pune

Link to the article @ DNA India
 
The researchers who made a team of volunteers travel on three different modes of transport - bus, bikes and auto-rickshaws - measured the levels of air pollutants i.e. carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and nitric oxide that one gets exposed to and here’s what they found. “We conducted a study in which we travelled for thirty six minutes from Kothrud and Deccan Gymkhana to Hadapsar with pollution monitoring devices using three transportation modes - two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws and PMPML bus service. When we compared the results, it was clear that there was more exposure to pollutants like SO2 and CO,when travelling in an auto-rickshaw and the least exposure was in the PMPML bus,” said Monica Barne, head of the Training Programmes Division, CRF.

Breathless in Pune - Blame it On Chilling Temperatures and Trapped Pollutants

“Every year, we are seeing a rise of at least five to ten per cent in the number of asthma patients. Rising environmental pollution plays a huge role in worsening the air quality of the city,” said pulmonologist Dr Vijay Warad.

Air Pollution Sources in Pune, India

Gufran Baig, director of Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology which measures the city’s pollution index, said, “While the ideal SPM levels should be less than 60 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3), we have observed the maximum levels to be around 135 ug/m3 which can be dangerous for asthmatics. Amongst the three pockets that fare the worst are Shivaji Nagar, Hadapsar and Bhosari because of the vehicular movements and industrial activities while peripherals of the city like Nigdi, Pashan and Baner have good air quality.”