Most cities in the state recorded a rising trend in annual particulate matter (PM)2.5 level in 2021 after the initial drop in Air Pollution level in 2020 due to Covid-induced lockdown, as per new analysis of regional pollution trends done by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE).
The analysis, released recently, showed that Muzaffarpurs annual Average of PM2.5 had jumped from 74 micrograms per cubic metre (g/m3) in 2020 to 78 in 2021 whilePatnas annual average of PM2.5 rose to 75 in 2021 against 64 g/m3 in 2020. The annual average of PM2.5 level in Hajipur was 60 g/m3 and it was 49 g/m3 inGaya.
The national limit is 40 micrograms while the World Health Organisations recently set annual standard for PM2.5 is 5 micrograms. PM2.5 are tiny particles in the air that reduce visibility and trigger several diseases, including fatal ones like cancer.