CSE study to identify sources of pollution

New Delhi: Delhi-based think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) is set to start a real-time source apportionment study to identify the factors responsible for the city’s foul air.

Anumita Roychowdhury, head of air pollution and clean transportation programme at CSE, said the idea is to find out the exact composition of the pollutants.

“It will be a real-time study on the sources of pollution in Delhi. We will be looking at continuous emissions and real-time source apportionment. We will measure the pollutants and ascertain what could be the possible source,” Roychowdhury told TOI.

According to the CSE expert, the exercise will be done in the city as well as in the NCR.

“We are in the process of identifying multiple places in NCR where we will collect the samples and the results will be available immediately. We will then analyse it and it will benefit in local area mapping. The current thrust is also on local area action as the authorities are also taking measures, especially in hotspots,” she said.

Earlier this month, the Delhi government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Washington University (St Louise) to undertake a real-time source apportionment study in the capital to evaluate the air quality issues.

The MoU is aimed at a joint study to be undertaken by the Washington University and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee for the real-time source apportionment with special reference to PM2.5. Analysis of elemental, organic carbon and 72 inorganic elements will also be undertaken. The project duration is 18 months and the work will be undertaken by the personnel of the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Laboratory (AAQRL). The laboratory has expertise to identify air quality problems and suggest solutions to curtail the emissions to reduce the air pollutant release.

Experts at IIT Kanpur are also in talks with the Central Pollution Control Board for funding a similar study under which multiple innovations and initiatives are being conducted aimed at fighting Delhi’s toxic air.

The IIT experts plan to take real-time measurements using a device called an aerosol mass spectrometer. This device can actually give you a chemical analysis of every organic matter, except dust particles.