January may have given the city a feel of winter, but the chill comes with a nasty sidekick: heavy air pollution. The drop in temperatures has seen cold air trap pollutants, forming a haze that spells major health trouble for many.

In the last 15 days, the concentration of suspended particulate matter in the air has almost doubled. Till date, every third day this month has seen RSPM levels at twice the acceptable maximum or close to it. The levels have been over the permissible limit for the last one month.

Data Collected By Pollution Control Board Shows Greater Awareness Among People About Harmful Effects Of Crackers

Mumbai: The city seems to have kept its decibel levels and air pollution low this year. Data released by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) shows that the concentration of the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) levels on Diwali day was about 175 ug/m3, lower than even the 2010 reading of 182.

The overall noise level in the city may have come down this Diwali, but some pockets witnessed a very noisy celebration, recording a deafening 100dB.

Decibel Levels Dip, But Still Way Above Permissible Limits

Highest Diwali noise levels have consistently stayed above 95 decibels — breaching 100 at times — and the worst have been some of the posh localities in the city, shows data put out by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB).

The Bombay high court order directing the state government to ban construction on wetlands can lend a lease of life to acres around the city’s coast where either construction or dumping of debris h

Heavy Pollution Feared Along 10-Km Stretch

Navi Mumbai/Mumbai: A pipeline in the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s Uran plant developed a leak on Sunday night, spilling about 5,000 litres of crude oil into the Arabian Sea that spread about 10km along the coastline and caused considerable water pollution.

Mumbai: The number of tigers is increasing in many states, says the latest census.

Mumbai: Most Mumbaikars are unwilling to segregate waste before disposal, according to a survey by The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Despite the belief that waste segregation at source is the best way to handle solid waste and limit health hazards, 80% of those surveyed were not willing to do it. The survey revealed that generating less waste and improving the recycling capacity are other ways which people felt can help manage waste. A meagre 8% were in favour of a user charge.

Survey Gauges City’s Attitude Towards Issues On Environment

Mumbai: Climate change is no longer an environmentalist’s concern. Erratic weather, change in temperature, depletion of air quality and wind patterns seem to be weighing on Mumbaikars’ minds too.

Mumbai: The house sparrow, once the most commonly sighted bird in the country, is gradually losing its presence in the urban landscape.

According to the Common Bird Monitoring of India (CBMI), a year-old initiative of environment organization Nature Forever Society, the sparrow is now the fourth most common bird in the country. The CBMI identified 794 locations in the country where rock pigeons are found, 822 locations where crows were often spotted, 743 where common mynas were spotted, and only 494 locations where house sparrows were seen in the last one year.