Environment Department Disputes Awaaz’s Air Quality Index Readings: What You Need to Know

As the Mumbai Marathon approaches, the state pollution control board (MPCB) took action to monitor air quality along the route. On Saturday evening, they deployed eight mobile vans to measure air quality levels. They also urged the local authorities to keep the marathon route clean and ensure construction activities comply with regulations.

These mobile vans were deployed after the Awaaz Foundation reported air quality index (AQI) readings along the marathon route on Friday. They found that the AQI ranged from a low of 95 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) at Worli to a high of 154 µg/m3 at Mahim Reti Bunder. All these readings exceeded the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) safe limit of 60 µg/m3 for PM2.5 over a 24-hour period.

Vinita Singal, principal secretary of the state environment department, responded to the Awaaz Foundation’s findings. She expressed concerns about the validity of the readings, noting that the foundation’s Atmos sensor-based monitors do not meet the CPCB’s required standards for air quality assessment. According to her, while these sensors can give a rough idea of air quality, they aren’t reliable for making regulatory claims.

Awaaz Foundation’s founder, Sumaira Abdulali, countered that when they took their readings, the CPCB’s Sameer App showed similar high levels of PM2.5 in Mumbai, raising concerns for the health of marathon participants. In response, the MPCB decided to place five additional vans along the marathon route to ensure accurate monitoring on the event day.

Abdulali acknowledged that while ordinary citizens might not have access to the costly equipment required for regulatory monitoring, their citizen science data is still crucial. It sheds light on pollution issues, complementing official data from regulatory bodies. Many countries recognize the value of such supplementary information.