7 Places In Odisha Record ‘Poor’ Air Quality; Know Its Effects On Health

Bhubaneswar: In addition to intense heatwave, the air quality was recorded as ‘poor’ in 7 places of Odisha on Saturday.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Angul, Barbil, Bileipada, Keonjhar, Nayagarh, Rourkela, and Suakati was found to be poor category.

Angul recorded a ‘poor’ AQI with an index value of 257 and the major pollutant found was PM_2.5. Similarly, Barbil had index value of 284 with major pollutant O₃,  Bileipada (index value-244, major pollutant PM₁₀), Keonjhar (209, PM_2.5), Nayagarh (265, PM_2.5), Rourkela (207, PM_2.5), and Suakati (index value-272, and major pollutant-O₃).

PM10 air consists of inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller, while PM2.5 includes fine inhalable particles with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

These particles are so small that those can be inhaled and can cause serious health problems. Some particles of less than 10 micrometer in diameter can get deep into human lungs and some may even get into bloodstream. Of these, particles with less than 2.5 micrometer in diameter, also known as fine particles or PM_2.5, pose the greatest risk to health.