Air quality in Saugor

What is the level of air pollution in Saugor, now?

Sagar (formerly Saugor) is a city in the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. It sits at 536 metres above sea level and is 172 kilometres away from Bhopal which is the state capital. A 2011 census estimated the population to be approximately 275,000 inhabitants.

Towards the middle of 2021, Saugor was experiencing a period of “Good” quality air with a US AQI figure of 22. This United States Air Quality Index is a globally recognised system of calculating the quality of air at any given location. It is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Up to six of the most prevalent pollutants are measured and then the US AQI figure can be calculated. For Saugor, only two figures were available which were as follows: PM2.5 - 5.4 µg/m³ and PM10 - 5.6 µg/m³. With levels as low as this, doors and windows can be opened at home to let the fresh air inside and all forms of outdoor activity can be enjoyed without fear. The table at the top of this page shows the latest level of pollution and should help with any decisions.

Does the level of air pollution in Saugor vary throughout the year?

As air pollution can be affected by many variables it can and does vary over the course of a year. The latest figures from 2020 have been published on the IQAir.com website and it can easily be seen that the air quality falls into two distinct periods. From January until the end of September, Saugor experienced a period of “Moderate” quality air with recorded figures between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. The remaining months of October, November and December saw a slightly worse quality when it was classified as being “Unhealthy for sensitive groups” with figures between 35.5 and 55.4 µg/m³.

There are no records held before 2020 when the annual average was 32.7 µg/m³ but this may not be an accurate reflection of the true figure because of the many restrictions put into place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What are the causes of air pollution in Saugor?

Some common causes of air pollution are emissions from vehicles, smoke and other chemicals emitted from industrial units. Smoke from burning organic matter such as trees, coal and oil refineries and crop residue.

The air of the city has been polluted by 10 per cent more than last year. This effect is not only seen in the industrial areas but also in the residential areas of the city. According to the Pollution Control Board report, air pollution in the Saugor district has increased considerably since 2011 till now.

The dust and haze caused by vehicles travelling on the roads is a major cause of pollution but the toxic smoke emanating from the vehicles and the fine dust particles from the construction works are making this pollution even more toxic. Sulphur, nitrogen and carbon particles emitted from the smoke of these vehicles and also of garbage dissolving in the air.

Can anything be done to improve air quality in Saugor?

Several suggestions have been put forward for consideration which includes conducting an intensive campaign for the transport department checking of polluting vehicles for vehicle pollution control, implementing BS-4 Fuel Trains, the widening of roads, construction of bypasses and laying of paver blocks on the side of private roads. The planting of trees along open spaces, guards, squares and along the side and the creation of fountains at busy junctions of roads have also been considered.

Public transport should be encouraged so replacing the volume of private cars using the road network. Solar energy should be utilised more as a replacement for energy produced by fossil fuels. There are also efforts to increase the facility of e-rickshaws in the city.

Car-pooling should be encouraged by the employer in order to end the use of single occupancy vehicles. Consider composting organic waste in the garden instead of burning it.

The situation has come under control due to air pollution in the city. Where up to 5 years ago, the level of air pollution in the city was 70-80 micrograms per cubic meter. It has now come down from 50 to 60. Experts are saying the reason for increasing greenery around parks and roads and not burning garbage. People have started avoiding the burning of garbage in the city after the use of a garbage collection service. This has led to an improvement in the situation.

What effect does polluted air have on human health?

There are many elements in the air that can impair the health of plants and animals (including humans), or can impair eyesight. They originate from both natural processes and human activities. Elements not naturally found in air or with higher concentrations or different from normal are called pollutants.

Pollutants can be classified as primary or secondary. Primary pollutants are elements that are directly emitted from a process such as ash from volcanic eruptions, carbon monoxide gas from motor vehicles and sulphur dioxide gas from factories.

Secondary pollutants are not directly emitted. Rather, when primary pollutants react or react amongst themselves when they are formed in the air. An important example of secondary pollutants is ground-level ozone - one of the many secondary pollutants that create photochemical fog.

Major primary pollutants arising from human activities include: Sulphur oxide (SOx) is specifically emitted by the burning of sulphur dioxide coal and oil. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are specifically emitted from nitrogen dioxide from combustion at high temperatures. The plume can be seen in the cities as a mist of brown air. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a greenhouse gas emitted from incomplete combustion.

Substances (PM), measured in the form of dust and smoke. The PM10 is the part of the free element that measures 10 microns in diameter and is small enough to enter the nasal cavity. The maximum size of PM2.5 is 2.5 microns and is small enough to enter the lungs. Very often these particles are covered with virus metals such as zinc, cadmium and copper which are extremely harmful once inside the respiratory system.