Odd - Even scheme had little impact on air pollution

• Air pollution is a serious problem in Delhi and vehicular traffic is generally thought to be the main culprit. But a new study done in the national capital has found that traffic density alone doesn’t have much impact on the amount or intensity of air pollution in the city. 
• The study, conducted during implementation of traffic rationing policy - popularly known as `Odd-Even Scheme’ - implemented from January 1 to 15, 2016, found that there was hardly any impact on the characteristics and concentration of major air pollutants - particulate matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) and black carbon.
• “The daily variation in meteorological parameters makes it very difficult to delineate the effect of traffic density on PM concentration. Although there may be a reduction in the level of few pollutants, the decrease in the number of vehicles was not sufficient to make a visible change in PM characteristics over Delhi,” the study has concluded.
• The positive impact was seen in terms of reduction in concentration of some harmful chemical elements like arsenic, copper, lead, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, silica, sodium, chlorine, potassium, chromium and iron. 
• The PM 2.5 directly enters living tissues through lungs, causing several respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Black carbon is the sooty black material emitted from diesel engines of vehicles and holds a large portion of particulate matter in itself.

Business Line August 16