Monitoring Report of Ambient Air Quality,
Noise Levels and Mass Awareness
Deepawali 2016
Central Pollution Control Board
Zonal Office (Central) Bhopal
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Index
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Contents
Introduction
Causes of pollution
Adverse Effects of Bursting Crackers on Health
Objectives of monitoring
Ambient Air Quality & Noise Monitoring
About Bhopal city, its climate and location of
monitoring stations
Status of Ambient Air Quality at three locations in
Bhopal
Air Quality Monitoring data interpretation
Air Quality Index
Noise level monitoring data interpretation
Mass awareness : Deepawali 2016
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Central Pollution Control Board
Zonal Office (Central) Bhopal
Monitoring Report of Ambient Air Quality,Noise Levels and mass awareness :
Deepawali 2016
1.0 Introduction : Diwali or Deepawali is one of the most prominent and famous
festivals of India, celebrated with great gusto and fervour. In Sanskrit, word
‘Deepavali’ means “rows of lights” so this festival is also known as “Festival of
Lights”. Diwali festival starts with Dhanteras, followed by small Diwali and then main
Diwali. Deepawali is popularly known as the “festival of lights” bringing joy to the
young and old all alike.
Since last few years, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring
Ambient Air quality and Noise Levels during Diwali festival and observed that the
Noise levels are found to be above the prescribed limits both during day and night
times. Hence, CPCB has also taken initiatives to create public awareness for
minimizing the pollution from bursting of the fireworks/crackers and its associated
adverse health impacts during the festival.
2.0 Causes of pollution : Crackers hold a fascination for both young and old
alike. Crackers of varied colors and sounds fill the skies heralding India’s favorite
festival, however these crackers create tremendous affect on our environment
causing noise and air pollution and also affect of health the all creatures. The smoke
of fireworks consists of mainly fine toxic particles
and chemicals that easily enter into lungs track
causing harmful effects for those already sick or
allergic in nature and healthy.
3.0 Adverse Effects of Bursting Crackers on
Health
 Apart from the mild burns and accidents
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



the children also breathe the toxic air and suffer from nasal irritation and
throat congestion.
The smoke also irritates the eyes causing tears and redness. Sometimes, the
sound makes the ears go dumb and also cause temporary deafness.
Bursting crackers may increase blood pressure and aggravate heart
problems. Nausea, headache and giddiness are common effects of bursting
crackers.
Lung infections such as coughing, sneezing, Respiratory disorders like
asthma, wheezing often get severe during Deepawali festival. The pollution
hazards such as the toxic smoke causes a lot of discomfort in breathing.
The poisonous gas can also affect pregnant women adversely. It may also
affect the mentally ill patients leading to depression, fear and stress.
4. Objectives of monitoring
In order to assess the problem of rising air and noise pollution caused
by fire crackers during Deepawali festival, Zonal Office, Bhopal has conducted
Ambient Noise and Air Quality Monitoring on Normal Day (October 24-25, 2016) and
Deepawali Days (October 30-31, 2016) at Bhopal. The monitoring was carried out at
different representative locations of city covering various zones (viz. Commercial &
Residential) with following objectives :


To determine present Air Quality status and Air Quality Index (AQI) and
trends in normal days and during Deepawali festival;
To monitor the Ambient Noise levels for normal and Deepawali day from
18:00 Hrs to 24:00 Hrs at various locations of Bhopal;
Special awareness programs were also conducted among the school
children and educational institutes of Bhopal for a period of more than 30
consecutive days (September 21, 2016
to October 26, 2016).
5.0 Ambient Air Quality Monitoring
The Ambient Air Quality Monitoring was
carried out for minimum 24 hours as per the
NAMP protocol from 06:00 Hours to 06:00 Hours
round the clock. The national standards are
prescribed for 24 hours. The monitoring has been carried out for Particulate Matter
PM10 (Size less than 10µm) and primary gaseous pollutants like SO2 & NO2.
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5.1 Ambient Noise Level Monitoring
Noise level monitoring was carried out by using a Type 1 integrating sound
level meter with free-field microphone which meets the accuracy of noise
measurement as per IEC 804 (BS 6698) Grade I or ANSI Type I or equivalent IEC
61672-1(2002-05) Class-I to see the overall impact of bursting of crackers on
Ambient Noise level.
5.2 Monitoring schedule: Noise Monitoring was conducted from 18.00 Hrs to
24.00 Hrs continuously at each location with sampling frequency of 1 second.
5.3 Monitoring Parameters: Measurement of Leq, Lmax and Lmin have been
taken at all the three locations during monitoring. Results of noise monitoring and
trends of noise level in normal day and festival day have been interpreted in the
report.
6.0 About Bhopal city and its climate:
As per 2011 census population of Bhopal city is reported around 19,95,648.
Total area covered under BMC (Bhopal Municipal Corporation) is around 648.24 KM2.
Bhopal the capital city of Madhya Pradesh is located at latitude of 23°15’N and
longitude of 77°25’E. Bhopal is one of the fast growing metro city, where housing,
infrastructure, transportation, education and industrialization activities are
increasing rapidly. The Bhopal city is popular as ‘City of lakes’ because of its number
of ponds and lakes.
Bhopal has a humid subtropical climate, with cool, dry winters, a hot summer
and a humid monsoon season. Summers start in late March and go on till mid-June,
the average temperature being around 30 °C, with the peak of summer in May, when
the temperature regularly exceed 42 °C. The monsoon starts in late June and ends in
late September. The average temperature is around 25 °C whereas the humidity is
reported to be quite high. Temperatures rise again up to late October when winter
starts, which lasts up to early March. Winters in Bhopal are cool, sunny and
comfortable, with average daily temperatures around 16 °C and little or no rain.
6.1 Location of monitoring stations:
Ambient air quality & noise level monitoring on normal day & on-Diwali day
were carried out at 03 locations as per the protocol received from Head Office.
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Details of monitoring locations are as below:
Name of the
monitoring location
North TT Nagar, at
CPCB Zonal Office
Description
of location
Commercial
Area
Latitude
&Longitude
23° 14.137’ N
77° 23.897’ E
Nehru Nagar
Residential
Area
23° 12.941’ N
77° 23.624’ E
Shahjahanabad
Residential
area
23° 16.098’ N
77° 23.559’ E
Activities around locations
Vehicle movement,
commercial activities and
bursting of crackers
Bursting of crackers, road
sweeping and Vehicle
movement.
Vehicle movement,
commercial activities and
bursting of crackers
6.2 Map showing the monitoring locations:
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6.3
Meteorological data recorded during Diwali monitoring:
Date
Temperature in (0C)
Prominent
Humidity
Wind direction
in %
Minimum Maximum
and wind
speed (M/S)
24.10.2016
14
31
1.4 SE
33.4
30.10.2016
14
30
1.6 SE
32.9
Rainfall
No rainfall on 24 &
30 October 2016.
7.0 Status of Ambient Air Quality at three locations in Bhopal
Details
of Locations
North T.T.
Nagar
(Commercial)
Nehru Nagar
(Residential)
Parameters
PM10
SO2
NO2
PM10
SO2
NO2
Shahjahanabad PM10
(Residential) SO2
NO2
National Ambient Air Quality
Standard –
Industrial/Residential/rural or
other area (24 hourly average
in µg/m3)
On 24.10.2016
Pre-Diwali
On 30.10.2016
Diwali
Remarks
79
BDL (2.8)
24
112
BDL (3.4)
21
119
4.8
26
SO2
217
22
44
697
24
49
215
23
45
NO2
The weather was
found clear during
monitoring
days.
Heavy bursting of
crackers on Diwali
day was also seen
and observed all
over the Bhopal city.
80
80
100
PM10
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8.0 Interpretation of Air Quality Monitoring Data
Particulate matter (PM10) - During normal days, PM10 level was
found to be between 59 to 179 μg/m3, while on the festival day it ranged between
113 and 1005 μg/m3. The maximum PM10 value of 1005 μg/m3 was reported at
Nehru Nagar area on the festival day as heavy fire crackers bursting was observed.
This location covered under residential category.
Graph 01: PM 10 level on Normal & Diwali day 2016
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) - The normal day, SO2 level was found to be between BDL
to 6.6 μg/m3, while same on the festival day ranged between 07 and 42 μg/m3. The
maximum SO2 value of 42 μg/m3 was reported at Nehru Nagar on the festival day
and this location covered under residential category.
Graph 02: SO2 level on Normal & Diwali day 2016
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Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) - The normal day, NO2 level ranged between 15 to
40 μg/m3, while on the festival day it was observed between 19 and 82 μg/m3.
The maximum NO2 value of 82 μg/m3 was reported at Nehru Nagar on the
festival day and this location covered under residential category.
Graph 03 : NO2 level on Normal & Diwali day 2016
9.0 Air Quality Index :
Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to
people which is easy to understand. It transforms complex air quality data of various
pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature and colour. There are six
AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor,
and Severe. Each of these categories is based on ambient concentration values of air
pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints). AQ subindex and health breakpoints are evolved for eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2,
SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (upto 24-hours) National Ambient
Air Quality Standards are prescribed. Based on the measured ambient concentrations
of a pollutant, sub-index is calculated, which is a linear function of concentration. The
AQI of the normal day and Deepawali day are given below :
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Air Quality
Index
Pollution
Category
0-50
51-100
Good
Minimal Impact.
Satisfactory May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive
people.
Moderate
May cause breathing discomfort to people with lung
diseases such as Asthma and discomfort to people with
heart disease Children and older adults.
Poor
May cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged
exposure and discomfort to people with heart diseases.
Very Poor
May cause respiratory illness to the people on
prolonged exposure. Effect may be more pronounced in
people with lung and heart diseases.
Severe
May cause respiratory effects even on healthy people
and serious health effect on people with lung/heart
diseases.
101-200
201-300
301-400
>401
Related Health Impact
Air Quality Index of Normal day and Diwali day as given below :
Location
Pre Diwali Monitoring
During Diwali Monitoring
24.10.2016
Details
30.10.2016
Prominent
Prominent
AQI
Category
AQI
Category
Parameter
Parameter
North T.T.
Nagar Bhopal 79.00
(Commercial)
Nehru Nagar
Area Bhopal
108.26
(Residential)
Shahjahanaba
d Bhopal
112.88
(Residential)
PM10
177.56
MODERATE
PM10
PM10
500
SEVERE
PM10
PM10
176.24
MODERATE
PM10
SATISFACTORY
MODERATE
MODERATE
10.0 Noise level monitoring
The sound which pleases the listeners is music whereas which causes pain and
annoyance is termed as noise. Noise is generally defined as the undesirable sound.
We can measure individual sounds that may damage human hearing, but it is difficult
to monitor cumulative exposure to noise. The effect of noise pollution is
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multifaceted and inter related can lead to decrease in work efficiency, lack of
concentration, fatigue, increase in blood pressure, temporary deafness, even could
lead to abortion etc. Noise is measured in decibels dB(A). ‘A’ symbol indicates a
measurement of a logarithmic scale.
The objective of this monitoring is to assess the problem being faced by the
residents when the noise level in their surroundings exceeds the permissible limit
especially at Deepawali due to bursting of fire crackers.
The noise level monitoring was carried out on 24th & 30th October 2016 for
18.00 Hrs to 24.00 Hrs continuously. The monitoring was carried out at locations
closer to the residential buildings. The main purpose of this monitoring was to
determine the level of noise and its impact on the environment and normal human
being residing in that area or its proximity. The noise level monitoring data of various
locations are given below:
Status of Ambient Noise levels
Location
Time
Duration
Pre- Diwali
(24.10.2016)
Lmin
Lmax Leq
Diwali
(30.10.2016)
Lmin Lmax Leq
dB(A)
North T.T.
Nagar
(Commerc
ial)
dB(A)
18.00hrs19.00hrs
55.4
83.1
69.1
51.2
80.6
67.2
19.00hrs20.00hrs
53.1
84.3
68.0
50.3
93.2
77.2
20.00hrs21.00hrs
50.2
21.00hrs22.00hrs
54.4
22.00hrs23.00hrs
42.9
23.00hrs24.00hrs
39.4
Average
(18.00hrs24.00hrs)
49.1
88.6
82.1
67.2
66.0
Calibration result of Noise
level meter
54.2
60.2
97.5
103.2
Date
Calib
ratio
n
94dB
at
1000
Hz
114 dB at
1000Hz
24.1
0.16
Initi
al
93.8
114.1
Fina 94.0
l
114.0
Initi
al
93.9
113.8
Fina 94.0
l
114.0
69.8
70.2
30.1
0.16
82.9
73.1
62.6
50.4
55.6
50.3
105.2
98.5
64.2
68.9
Instrument: Delta OHM
HD2110L
82.3
63.8
53.6
96.3
69.5
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Nehru
Nagar
(Residenti
al)
18.00hrs19.00hrs
54.8
82.6
64.4
48.6
96.4
69.8
19.00hrs20.00hrs
52.1
83.4
66.0
51.9
95.6
70.1
20.00hrs21.00hrs
48.2
21.00hrs22.00hrs
51.0
81.6
65.2
58.6
104.2
78.1
22.00hrs23.00hrs
41.2
80.6
60.8
63.8
102.1
23.00hrs24.00hrs
Shahjahan
abad
(Residenti
al)
Average
(18.00hrs24.00hrs)
18.00hrs19.00hrs
19.00hrs20.00hrs
20.00hrs21.00hrs
21.00hrs22.00hrs
22.00hrs23.00hrs
23.00hrs24.00hrs
86.8
69.2
62.6
103.6
74.7
113.9
Final 93.9
114.1
113.9
Instrument: Delta OHM
HD2110L- Sl. No.
14022833445
98.2
67.1
47.6
81.1
63.3
55.4
100.1
72.9
46.7
81.8
65.2
60.9
98.6
77.3
44.3
76.8
65.0
63.0
102.6
81.5
101.3
93.8
Final 94.0
47.0
63.9
24.1 Initi
0.16 al
77.6
54.6
63.7
114 dB at
1000Hz
113.8
71.4
77.4
94dB
at
1000
Hz
93.9
38.3
44.0
Calib
ratio
n
Date
79.3
30.1 Initi
0.16 al
Date
Calibrati 94d
B at
on
100
0Hz
24.1 Initial
0.16
Final
41.0
37.3
70.5
65.5
61.1
56.5
64.3
57.0
103.0
103.4
75.0
82.7
30.1 Initial
0.16
Final
36.4
64.3
55.2
54.8
104.5
84.4
114 dB
at
1000Hz
93.
9
113.9
94.
0
114.1
94.
1
113.8
94.
0
114.1
Instrument: Quest 1900
Average
Sl. No. CCA020017
41.6
72.5
61.1 60.6 103.0 80.0
(18.00hrs24.00hrs)
*Noise Limits in Residential area in Leq dB (A) --- Day: 55 , Night: 45
Noise Limits in commercial area in Leq dB (A) --- Day: 65 , Night: 55
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10.1 Noise Monitoring data interpretation
The noise level measurements, before and on Diwali day were carried out
using Delta OHM HD2110L instrument from 18.00 hrs to 24.00 hrs as per the
prescribed protocol for Leq, Lmin & Lmax, parameters. The minimum noise level was
observed at Shahjahanabad i.e. 80.0 dB(A) on diwali day. However maximum noise
level on normal day was observed at T.T. Nagar i.e. 63.8 dB(A).
On Diwali day, due to heavy bursting of crackers, noise level reached
maximum up to 104.2 dB(A) and also the average Leq value observed above the
prescribed limit.
Leq value on diwali found to be exceeded around 1.5 times than the
prescribed noise standards at all the three monitoring locations (TT Nagar, Nehru
Nagar & Shahjahanabad). It is pertinent to mention data that during normal day
(24.10.2016) the noise level was also found slightly higher then the prescribed
standards.
Vehicular movement, traffic jam, noisy crackers and playing of high pitch
musical instruments during festival are the main sources attributed for the resultant
increase in high noise level.
Graph 04 : Noise level Leq dB(A) on Normal & Diwali day 2016
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Mass awareness : Deepawali 2016
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in its previous studies observed that
the noise levels were found above the prescribed limits during Diwali festival.
Hence, CPCB had prepared
a comprehensive plan to
create public awareness to
ensure minimizing the
pollution
levels
by
restricting use of the
fireworks and publishing its
associated adverse health
impacts.
The Hon’ble Supreme
Court in the Writ Petition
(Civil) No. 728/2015 regarding air & noise pollution due to fireworks on the eve of
Diwali has directed the Government to give wide publicity to the ill effects of
fireworks and encourage teachers to convince their students not to buy and use
fireworks. Accordingly, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has directed as follows :
 The Union Governments and all state Governments will give wide publicity to
the ill effects of fireworks and advise people to be cautious accordingly.
 The Teachers, Lecturers, Asst. Professors, Professors of the Schools and
Colleges to educate the students about the ill effects of the fireworks and to
restrict its usage.
 Restrict window for use of fireworks to be from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
CPCB for last few
years is continuously creating
public awareness towards the
high noise levels generated
during the bursting of the
crackers and its associated
adverse health impacts. Noise
standards for fire crackers have
been notified vide GSR No.682 (E) dated 5th October, 1999
under
the
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Environmental (Protection) Act. As per this notification, the manufacture, sale or
use of fire crackers generating noise levels exceeding 125 dB (AI) or 145 dB (C)pk at 4
meters distance from the point of bursting are prohibited for individual fire
crackers. For fire crackers in series, these noise limits are suitably made more
stringent depending
upon the number of
crackers in series.
Fire crackers shall
not be used at any
time
in
silence
zones, as defined in
S.O. 1046 (E) issued
on 22.11.2000 by
the Ministry of
Environment
and
Forests. Observing
that the ‘Right to Sleep’ is a fundamental right, the government of India has
banned firecrackers between 10 pm and 6 am, on Diwali.
In compliance of the above this office has also conducted various programmes
during 21.09.2016 to 26.10.2016 to create awareness among public and to give wide
publicity on ill-effects of fire crackers. Efforts were made by the office to educate and
sensitize the children, parents,
public that sound and air
pollution harm them personally.
Under
the
mass
awareness programme various
activities i.e. public talk shows,
demonstration of RDS & noise
level meter and environmental
quiz among the school children
have been organized to deliver
the message of Eco-friendly
diwali. During the mass awareness schools, colleges and educational institutes i.e.
Arera Convent school, Bhopal, Model Higher secondary school Bhopal, IIFM, Bhopal
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and Govt. High school Tilakhedi visited and organised the awareness programme
accordingly.
In public interest
an advertisement was
also released on behalf of
CPCB & MoEF&CC to
make Eco-friendly Diwali
in colour format in
leading Hindi newspaper
Dainik Bhaskar edition
Bhopal, Jaipur and Raipur
on October 30, 2016.
The Zonal office,
Bhopal is continuously
making
efforts
to
ensure
that
people
enjoy
a safe Diwali
through
awareness
programmes
and
inspiring and motivate to
students not to burn
firecrackers for safety of environment & health.
*****
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