Air quality in Virar

What is the air quality index of Virar?

Virar is a northern suburban city which is part of Mumbai India and part of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. Its population was 1.1 million people, 10 years ago so this figure will now be much larger.

At the beginning of 2021, Virar was experiencing a period of “Unhealthy” air with a US AQI figure of 158. This is according to the classifications by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The recorded level of PM2.5 was 68.2 µg/m³. With levels as high as these, it is advisable to wear a good quality face mask when going outside and limit the time of exposure, too. Doors and windows should be kept closed to prevent the ingress of polluted air into the house. All forms of outdoor exercise should be avoided until the air quality gets better. It would be advantageous to run an air purifier if one is available.

What is the main source of air pollution in Virar?

Road and construction dust is the major source of pollution. 29 per cent of PM (particulate matter) comes from road and construction dust. Power plants are the next main source which contribute 20 per cent of the total PM levels. The emissions from heavy-duty vehicles running on diesel were also found to be majorly contributing to the pollution. Road construction can be seen everywhere with many roads being repaired or resurfaced. Add this to the construction of the metro and new flyovers.

What is the level of pollution in Virar?

Looking back at figures from 2019, it can be seen that the air quality in Virar varies throughout the year. From May until the end of October Virar experienced “Moderate” quality air with figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. During the month of April, the air was “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with readings between 35.5 and 55.4 µg/m³. From the start of November until the end of March, the air quality was classed as “Unhealthy” with figures between 55.5 and 150.4 µg/m³.

Looking back over previous years not much change can be seen in better quality air. In 2017 the average measurement was 54.2 µg/m³, in 2018 it was 58.6 µg/m³ and in 2019 it was 45.3 µg/m³.

In 2019, Mumbai and its environs recorded 6 per cent of total days with very poor AQI as compared to 1-5 per cent in 2017-18 as per the report by SAFAR (system of air quality and weather forecasting). According to data collected by SAFAR, up to 25^th December, Mumbai recorded AQI index between 300-400 which is considered very poor and unhealthy. In 2020, it is observed that the AQI index in Mumbai at several locations is following the constant deterioration process.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Virar?

The major relievers from pollution are the forests and other ecosystems which face a major threat around Mumbai. Deforestation emits a lot of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and there are many proposals for deforestation around Mumbai. The Ahmedabad Mumbai bullet train project which sought over 125 hectares of forest land from Sanjay Gandhi national park and the Tungareshwar sanctuary in Vasai, also involves reclamation of 40,000 mangroves.

There has been a huge loss of green and open spaces for the Mumbai area which is already suffering through pollution. The metro 3 project which claimed over 2,100 trees in Aarey forest and over 5,000 trees across the city.

While the state and municipal administration of Mumbai is working to boost mass public transport, they should also make it sustainable.

The 22 million people in Mumbai have just 3 million trees for them as per the BMC released tree count report. The administration needs to adopt conservative policies in order to relieve the area from this pollution stress.

What are the effects of breathing Virar’s poor quality air?

Asthma attacks are a painful and frightening experience. Due to the narrowing of the respiratory tracts and chest tightness during the attack, it becomes difficult to breathe and the danger of life is also created when the condition worsens. World Asthma Day reminds that every type of air pollution causes serious problems for people struggling with breathing ailments.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) statistics, 23.5 million people in the world suffer from asthma. It is involved in major non-communicable diseases and this disease is usually seen in children. More than 80 per cent of deaths due to asthma occur in low and low-middle income countries.

The smoke emitted from the vehicles is equally harmful to health, but it especially causes problems for asthma patients. According to a new report, 11,000 cases per day suffer from asthma due to pollution caused by the smoke from vehicles. It is exacerbated because children are not as tall as adults and therefore are subject to higher concentrations.

The basic causes of asthma are not fully understood, but apart from the hereditary causes, it can also be due to exposure to such substances and particles inhaled and allergies that subsequently arise. These include dust mites, pollen, smoke and air pollution present in the house.

Symptoms of asthma can arise from harmful substances present in the air entering the body by breathing, changes in the weather or particles carried in the dust.

Due to an asthma attack, the respiratory tracts are closed due to which the flow of air reaching and going out of the lungs starts to decrease. This causes breathlessness and a strong feeling of suffocation.

How can people protect themselves from the dirty air in Virar?

If possible, choose the time of day to venture outside. Try to avoid the rush hours when the roads are congested with heavily polluting traffic. When walking near roadways, try to walk as far away from the traffic as possible and always wear a good quality facemask.

If available, consider operating an air-purifying system for part of the day to clean the air of harmful substances.

Particulate matter and harmful gases in polluted air increase free radicals in the body and cause inflammation. So, eating a lot of antioxidant-rich and anti-inflammatory foods would better-equip your body to face the negative effect of pollution. So, add a lot of vitamin B, C, D and E to your diet along with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). This includes foods such as fish, fish oil, citrus fruit, olives, leafy greens, sprouts and avocados.