Latest news with #PM10
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- Science
- Los Angeles Times
Efforts to reduce dust from dry Owens Lake bed are helping, report finds
The dry bed of Owens Lake has long been a major source of dust in the Owens Valley, but mitigation efforts have reduced those emissions to a point that other dust sources in the surrounding desert now cause most of the poor air quality days in the area, according to a new report. Owens Lake was left desiccated after Los Angeles began tapping the eastern Sierra watershed for its own needs more than a century ago. But the amount of dust coming from the lake bed has been declining in recent years as the L.A. Department of Water and Power has taken mitigation measures such as spreading water on parts of the lake bed. 'This is a success story in process,' said Ted Russell, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology and chair of the Owens Lake Scientific Advisory Panel. 'You want to be able to understand where these sources are, such that you can better control them.' The panel, which was established in 2018 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, released its report this week detailing research and data on off-lake sources of dust — also known as PM10, particulate matter that measure 10 microns or smaller, and that penetrate into the lungs and can cause health problems. The team said in the report that significant dust sources in areas around the lake include land where floods have left deposits of sand and debris, the Keeler Dunes, the Olancha Dunes, alluvial fans and areas where soil has been disturbed for road infrastructure. The scientists said some of these areas are naturally sources of dust, while others are emitting more of it because of diversions of water or alterations of the landscape by people. Russell said research shows that the DWP's dust control efforts have been successful in reducing PM10 emissions from the lake bed, as well as the frequency of exceedances of air quality standards. The DWP has invested about $2.5 billion in dust mitigation projects on the dry lake bed, using methods including the shallow flooding of the lake bottom, placement of gravel, tillage that roughens the soil and the planting of vegetation that serves as a windbreak. The days with air quality exceedances caused by sources other than the lake have gone up and down in recent years, without a clear trend, Russell said. 'Off-lake sources in this arid environment are significant and are driving a large number of the PM10 exceedances at this time,' Russell said. He said that means bringing the area into attainment with national air quality standards will require additional effects to control the dust sources other than the lakebed. The report was sponsored by the DWP and the Great Basin Unified Air Pollution Control District, which regulates air pollution in an area of about 32,000 people. The DWP had no immediate comment on the panel's findings. The scientists noted that on the northeastern side of Owens Lake, the Keeler Dunes transitioned during the last century from a 'largely vegetated dune system' to one that releases more dust. They wrote that 'increased sand transport following the diversion of water from Owens Lake destabilized the Keeler Dunes.' The scientists said ongoing efforts to stabilize the Keeler Dunes have been effective in mitigating dust. The work there has included arranging bales of straw on the sand, which has enabled native shrubs to take root and begin to keep down the blowing dust. The panel said these and other efforts to establish native vegetation hold promise to control dust in other areas and further improve air quality in the Owens Valley.
The Hindu
a day ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Chefs in Dakshina Kannada community kitchens exposed to high levels of particulate matter: Study
A collaborative study on air pollution levels in 15 community kitchens in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka where large-scale cooking is done reveals that chefs are exposed to high levels of particulate matter (PM). The study titled 'Assessment of health risks due to the inhalation of respiratory particulate matter generated in the community kitchens' was carried out by Mangalore University in collaboration with IIT-Bombay and University of Miami, U.S. It was published online in the Journal of Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, Springer in March 2025. The study was done by K. Sudeep Kumara, a post-doctoral fellow at Mangalore University; N. Karunakara, Coordinator of the Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Radioactivity (CARER), Mangalore University; Y. S. Mayya, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, IIT, Bombay; and Pratim Biswas, Professor, Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering, University of Miami, U.S.A. Particulate Matter size fraction Concentration (µg/m³) Concentration (µg/m³) Concentration (µg/m³) WHO (recommended) USEPA (recommended) DK community kitchens (mean value) PM2.5 5 9 111 PM10 15 - 119 WHO – World Health Organisation; USEPA – United States Environmental Protection Agency Source: Mangalore University Advanced real-time air quality monitoring devices (APT-MAXIMA by Applied Particle Technology Inc, USA) that measure particle size distribution from 0.3 µm (micrometre) to >10 µm (micrometre) were used in this study. Continuous and real-time monitoring of PM concentration was performed for 15 to 20 days. The study focused on measuring PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 airborne particles known to penetrate deep into the lungs and then into the bloodstream. The continuous monitoring allowed the researchers to establish the essential database on air pollution levels in community kitchens, for which previous studies were non-existent. The kitchens included in the research served large populations in schools, hostels, restaurants, and mid-day meal programmes, reflecting typical cooking environments in India. The study was implemented by CARER of Mangalore University. Findings of the study The findings revealed that PM concentrations significantly exceeded acceptable air quality standards, especially during cooking hours. The PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations varied in the range of 40-286 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), 58-418 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), and 62-434 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), respectively with corresponding geometric mean values of 74 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), 111 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter), and 119 µg m-3 (microgram per cubic meter). 'The study has unveiled the build-up of pollutant concentrations in kitchens characterised by inadequate ventilation,' said Prof. Karunakara. The study also revealed that the exposure to workers is higher in kitchens using solid bio-fuel when compared to other fuels, such as LPG, he said. Health risk assessment Health risk assessments based on the measured data indicated that kitchen workers are exposed to elevated health risks. The findings underscore the importance of effective ventilation systems in reducing inhalation-related health risks and ensuring safer indoor conditions for kitchen workers. It also lays the groundwork for large-scale environmental health monitoring, adaptable to diverse climatic and infrastructural conditions across India and beyond. The observations of the study reveal that the current exhaust systems installed in the community kitchens are not optimal for air cleaning. The study has recommended that the authorities concerned take note of these findings and develop relevant guidelines to improve air quality in community kitchens. The study has recommended that 'a comprehensive, long-term study of indoor air pollution, especially cooking related, to generate a robust database is important'. 'This study is the first-of-its-kind to meticulously investigate the exposure of workers in Indian community kitchens to various size fractions of particulate matter, thereby shedding light on the associated health risks. Notably, India, with the world's largest population, adds significance to the relevance and implications of this research,' he said. Research on societal issues P. L. Dharma, Vice-Chancellor, Mangalore University, said that it is a matter of great satisfaction that the university is actively engaged in research on issues relevant to society, and will continue to undertake such studies in the future as well.
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Business Standard
a day ago
- Science
- Business Standard
Delhi to launch ₹3.21 crore artificial rain project: How it will be done
Backed by IIT-Kanpur and IMD, the ₹3.21 crore project aims to trigger artificial rain over Delhi using cloud seeding technology to reduce PM levels and build evidence for future urban use Vrinda Goel New Delhi The Delhi government is set to launch its first pilot project for artificial rain through cloud seeding, or artificial rain, to tackle the city's pollution. Cloud-seeding operations will begin as soon as favourable weather conditions, particularly the presence of moisture-laden clouds, are observed. The ₹3.21 crore initiative will be implemented in partnership with IIT-Kanpur and the Delhi government's Department of Environment. IIT-Kanpur will handle the scientific, technical, and operational aspects of the project. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also extended formal support, confirming the feasibility of the project across the NCR. It will provide critical real-time data, including cloud type, altitude, wind patterns, and dew point to assist in operational planning, reports NDTV. What is artificial rain? Artificial rain is a weather modification technique that enhances precipitation by dispersing substances like silver iodide, potassium iodide, or dry ice into clouds. These act as nuclei, encouraging moisture to condense into larger droplets, which can trigger rainfall or snowfall from clouds that may not naturally produce it. Why Delhi needs artificial rain According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board and SAFAR, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 frequently exceed prescribed limits, pushing the Air Quality Index into the 'severe' category and posing serious public health risks. Artificial rain, created through cloud seeding, helps by washing out pollutants like PM2.5 and PM10 from the atmosphere, leading to cleaner air and better visibility. Delhi's artificial rain project: How it will be done As part of its artificial rain project, IIT-Kanpur will fly small aircraft over Delhi skies to try and make it rain. The aircraft will carry special flares that release a mixture of chemicals into the clouds, encouraging them to produce rain. The aircraft, a modified Cessna, will carry flares filled with a unique mix developed by IIT-Kanpur. This mix includes tiny particles of silver iodide (a compound that helps form ice), powdered rock salt, iodised salt, and a chemical to keep the mix free-flowing. This blend works in two ways: it helps water droplets form more easily and also triggers the formation of ice crystals, both of which increase the chances of rain. The trial will include up to five flights, each lasting at least 90 minutes and covering around 100 square kilometres. These flights will avoid sensitive or restricted airspace and will only take place after getting final clearances. They will focus on areas in northwest and outer Delhi. The flights will target nimbostratus clouds—thick, grey clouds found between 500 and 6,000 metres above ground level and with a moisture level of over 50 per cent, which makes them suitable for seeding. The exact amount and type of the seeding mix used will depend on the weather and how much moisture is present in the clouds. To track the effect of the artificial rain on pollution, IIT-Kanpur will monitor air quality in real time using Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) in and around the area. These stations measure PM2.5 and PM10—tiny harmful particles in the air that affect health. IIT-Kanpur had earlier run seven successful cloud seeding trials between April and July in drought-hit regions, using the same type of aircraft and flare-based systems. The Delhi project builds on those efforts, with a new focus on fighting air pollution. It is expected to provide data that may help use this method in other polluted urban areas in future. A step towards Delhi's 'right to clean air' Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa called the pilot project a national-first, rooted in science and executed with precision. 'This is not just a fight against pollution, it's a blueprint for the future. The experiment is being carried out with military-grade accuracy and real-time evaluation,' he said.
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- General
- Deccan Herald
Delhi spent just 1/3rd of funds received under NCAP to fight air pollution: Govt data
Launched in 2019, the NCAP is India's first national plan to set clean air targets. It aims to reduce PM10 pollution by 40% in 130 highly polluted cities by 2026, using 2019-20 as the base year.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Delhi's ambitious dust-pollution control project to cost over Rs 2000 crore
NEW DELHI: A proposal to combat dust pollution in the capital, approved by the cabinet last month, is set to cost a total of Rs 2,388 crore over the next ten years. The Public Works Department (PWD) will spearhead the project, which includes large-scale deployment of mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling systems aimed at improving Delhi's ambient air quality. The initiative falls under the broader 'Pollution Control and Emergency Measures' scheme approved last month by the Delhi Cabinet in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. Of the total budget, Rs 1,158 crore has been earmarked for the hiring of 250 water sprinkler vehicles equipped with anti-smog guns. These will operate in three daily shifts, using treated water supplied free of cost, 15,000 kiloliters per day by the Delhi Jal Board. In addition, the government will spend Rs 1,230 crore over the next seven years in hiring 70 mechanical road sweeping machines. These units, which come equipped with 210 water sprinklers, tankers and anti-smog guns, will focus on cleaning road carriageways, not footpaths or green verges. Officials cited a 2016 study by IIT Kanpur, which found that mechanical sweeping alone can reduce PM10 levels by 55%, and up to 90% if supported by vacuum-assisted sweeping.
