Vehicles adding to air pollution threat in Hyderabad, cautions expert

HYDERABAD: With the rapid increase in vehicle registrations, and thousands of new vehicles hitting the city roads, air pollution including noxious gases and harmful particulate matter (PM) that penetrate the lung tissue has reached alarming levels.

D. Shruti, a senior associate in a leading pharma company, said, “Vehicular emissions were identified as the major sources of these pollutants. According to our analysis we found an increase in the level of different air pollutants such as PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2,NH3, Benzene, and CO”.

According to the research, the number of pollutants have increased after lockdown restrictions were done away with. Vehicular pollution can lead to health hazards such as respiratory issues and cardiovascular problems. Increased levels of suspended particulate matter can cause pulmonary issues, she said.

The impact of Covid-19 and the need for social distancing saw an increased use of vehicles, as people were unable to rely on public transportation. Carpooling has not been successful, not only in the city but also in other cities and towns. Therefore, it was recommended to extend the Metro Rail to more areas and in multiple directions. Additionally, there is a need to promote the use of electric vehicles and implement stricter emission regulations, encouraging use of cleaner fuels and upgraded public transportation.