Poorva Chavan
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Written By: Poorva Chavan | Updated : January 18, 2016 9:24 AM IST
New Delhi has already been nominated as one of the most polluted cities in the country. While the state government is trying to implement the odd-even vehicle formula to control the air pollution, it will take some more time for the changes in the air quality to be visible. Read: Quality of air in Delhi 10 times higher than safety limit, children worst hit: WHO
A new report by Greenpeace India has now revealed high concentrations of heavy metals inside classrooms in different Delhi schools between October-November. Air samples from inside the classrooms were collected and the analysis revealed that the air contained high levels of heavy metals. The heavy metal concentration was high when the PM 2.5 concentrations were higher than the prescribed levels. Read: US embassy claims Delhi has very unhealthy and polluted air
The aim of the study was to find out the different constituents of PM 2.5 in the air. The results also revealed that PM 2.5 levels inside the school were five times more than the Indian safety limit and 11 times higher than the WHO standards. The air samples contained heavy metals such as arsenic, lead, cadmium, and nickel all of which are carcinogenic.
All the five samples contained a some or the other metal at a concentration that was higher than the respective limit value for the annual average concentration of that metal according to Indian and International standards. The report says that cadmium and arsenic concentrations were higher than the prescribed standards (Indian/WHO) in 70% and 40% of the schools respectively. Read: Air pollution, the 5th leading cause of death in India, kills around 30,000 Delhiites annually
Heavy metals and health-
Lead and manganese are toxic to the nervous system and affect the cognitive and motor development of children in particular. Arsenic, cadmium, nickel and chromium are carcinogenic causing different types of cancers.
Where do these heavy metals come from--
Sunil Dahiya, campaigner, Green Peace explains that most of these heavy metals are emitted by fossil fuels that are burned for energy production. The press release also said that a high fraction of heavy metals such as cadmium and lead come from industrial emissions, zinc and lead come from burning coal and non-ferrous metal melting.
Plan of action to tackle air pollution and its effects on health--
The press release said that shutting down schools and restricting outdoor activities would be a way of reducing children's exposure to polluted air. Dahiya also said that there is an urgent need for a comprehensive regional clean action plan to reduce air pollution from all the major sources in the northern Indian region. Till such measure start giving results government should reduce exposure of children by taking precautionary steps like shutting schools and/or reducing outdoor activities when the air is highly polluted.
Image source--Getty Images
