Hindustan Times  08.09.2010

The report shows that the presence of benzo(a)pyrene, a highly carcinogenic chemical released in the air, in the city has risen eight times from its minimum level of 0.13 µg/1000m3 in 2008-2009 to 1.09.

The maximum level has increased five times, from 0.54 µg/1000m3 in 2008-2009 to 2.56. µg/1000m3 is a unit that measures the concentration of particulate matter in a defined quantity of air.

“The annual average of B(a)P levels has exceeded the Central Pollution Control board standards of 1 µg/1000m3,” the report pointed out.

“These carcinogens can cause cancer of the breathing tract and the voice box as they are absorbed by the body while breathing,” said Dr Pankaj Chaturvedi, professor and head and neck cancer surgeon with the Tata Memorial Centre in Parel.

Benzo(a)pyrene is part of a class of chemicals called polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and is emitted from tar, automobile exhaust fumes and smoke from combustion of organic materials such as tobacco, wood, plants and coal, among other materials.

“A large number of studies have documented links between benzo(a)pyrene and cancers,” the BMC report said.

The report also shows that the annual range of other PAHs — phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene and benz(a)anthracene — have also seen a significant jump compared to last year.

PAHs, produced as byproducts of fuel burning, are potent atmospheric pollutants and identified as both carcinogenic and mutagenic. “Long-term human exposure to these PAHs might lead to genetic damage,” said Dr Chaturvedi.

The BMC report attributes the rise in these carcinogenic chemicals to increased construction activity and rapid industrialisation, among other factors.

The report is based on data of ambient air quality recorded at six air-monitoring stations at Worli, Andheri, Khar, Bhandup, Borivli and Maravli (Chembur).

The report also highlights the rise in suspended particulate matter (SPM) levels in the city, stating that the SPM levels have exceeded permissible limits at all sites except Borivli. SPM is high in areas that have high construction activities and emissions from bakeries, factories, hotels and stone-cutting units.

“The air in Mumbai also has higher values of particulate matter exceeding current standards all through the year, except during the monsoon. This is a worrying trend,” said an official from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, requesting anonymity.

Hindustan Times  08.09.2010

During the same period last year, the number of the vector-borne disease in the city was only 12 while it was 142 and 24 in the corresponding periods in 2008 and 2007. South Delhi continued to be worst-affected this season recording 252 cases, followed by MCD Central Zone (218) and Civil Lines (177).

Meanwhile, a strike by at least half of MCD's 3200 domestic breeding checkers (DBCs), who undertake door-to-door surveys to check mosquito breeding, entered its fourth day today.

The agitation went on despite warnings from MCD that those not returning to work may face termination of services. The striking workers staged a dharna and raised slogans near the MCD headquarters at Town Hall today. Anti-Malaria Karamchari Sangh president Ashok Chaudhary said the DBCs will continue their strike and pointed out that several court rulings have come in favour of regularisation.

The DBCs, who are contract workers, have been demanding regularisation of jobs for long. In 2008 too, they had observed a 47-day strike on the same demand. The MCD, however, says it does not have the required funds at present to regularise them.

Officials admit that appointing new people may also lead to a temporary manpower crunch as the process may take at least four to five days. In some parts of the city, MCD's permanent employees were used for fogging exercises.