We counted this already among the many menaces of living in polluted cities, but now there’s a study to prove it beyond doubt. Our children breathe heavily polluted air in schools.
The respirable standard particulate matter (RSPM) in Delhi schools apparently exceeds all air quality standards in most seasons, according to pollution watchers at The Energy Research Institute (TERI) in New Delhi. They studied five schools in the national capital region and found that nitrogen dioxide levels were also over the top in some of these schools. They report ‘alarming’ levels of pollutants on Diwali day, the festival of lights, and for days preceding Diwali.
Here, the first two self-explanatory graphs talk of the RSPM and nitrogen dioxide levels (in that order). The third graph gives a feel of the Diwali bonanza!
In the emission inventory of Delhi, the prime culprits stand out — vehicles and industries, primarily the power plants. The researchers have suggested a slew of mitigation measures to make school zones safer for children including improved parking, pick up and drop off zone for children, dense tree plantation, water sprinkling in play fields and special reinforcement messages prior to Diwali.
How doable is all this? Anything else that can be done to get our school authorities working?
This article may be very helpful for the concerned authorities of other cities to determine and monitor the pollution levels in schools. Once the pollution level is determined, the way to protect the students from the curse of the pollution may be evolved. The policy makers and the political leaders can do their best in this respect. But the dedicated media and conscious people will always remain as the best well wishers for the interest of the healthy and productive future generations.
Thought this is relevant to discussion:
Toxic Chemical Pollution, Children and Schools in the U.S.
https://www.mapcruzin.com/toxicrisk/index.htm
ToxicRisk.com is a Google Maps based mashup project that uses the latest EPA Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) data, released March 19, 2009, and in US schools. Links are provided to RTK Net for detailed chemical pollution release data and score card for chemical information. ToxicRisk.com has been doing interactive pollution mapping since the early 1990s.
Unfortunately, pollution level is only measured in metros. In my opinion small towns have more pollution, especially dust.