Air quality in Kannur

What is the current level of air pollution in Kannur?

Kannur (formerly known in English as Cannanore and Portuguese as Cananor) is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Kerala, India. According to a 2011 census, Kannur had an estimated population of 232,000 for its metropolis, but the larger metro area had over 1.6 million residents.

Towards the middle of 2021, Kannur was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI figure of 59. This United States Air Quality Index figure is a globally recognised system which is used throughout the world and, as such, it is used to compare different cities in different countries but by using the same metrics, and is endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). There are usually six main pollutants that are taken into consideration when assessing air quality. Sometimes numbers for all six common pollutants are not available so the figure has to be calculated by using what data is available. In the case of Kannur, three figures were available which were as follows: PM2.5 - 14.6 µg/m³, PM10 - 16.3 µg/m³ and sulphur dioxide (SO₂) - 1.1 µg/m³. With a level such as this, the advice is to close doors and windows to prevent more dirty air from entering the room. Those of a sensitive disposition are advised to remain indoors or if travel outside is unavoidable, then a good quality mask is recommended. The table at the top of this page will help you decide when the quality of air has improved sufficiently.

When is air quality at its best in Kannur?

Air quality is very easily affected by many things and can therefore change quickly. Prevailing winds and weather conditions make a big difference to air quality. Looking back at the figures for 2020 published by the Swiss air monitoring company, IQAir.com it can be seen that from January until the end of October, Kannur was experiencing a period of “Moderate” quality air with figures recorded between 12.1 and 35.4 µg/m³. For some reason, February was an exception when the figures spiked at 51.2 µg/m³ which pushed the air quality index into the next bracket which was “Unhealthy for sensitive groups”. The same scenario occurred in November and December with respective figures of 36.3 µg/m³ and 50.7 µg/m³.

The first annual average records were for 2020 when the level was recorded as being 29.5 µg/m³. However, this may not be a truly accurate reading because of the restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many vehicles were no longer used as the drivers were furloughed and not required to commute to and from work. There were also many factories and other non-essential production units which were temporarily closed in an attempt to prevent the spread of the virus.

Where does the air pollution in Kannur come from?

Air pollution is a major environmental issue that affects people in developed and developing countries alike. Particulate matters (PM10 and PM2.5), oxides of nitrogen (NO and NO₂), sulphur dioxide (SO₂), ozone (O₃), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the most common atmospheric air pollutants encountered in our daily life.

At the ground level, ozone is a major secondary air pollutant and greenhouse gas, produced from its precursor gases in the presence of solar radiation, and it plays a crucial role in air quality.

Particulate matters are a complex mixture of organic and inorganic substances found in the ambient air, and they play a vital role in the radiation of the atmosphere via the scattering and absorption processes. The major anthropogenic sources of PM10 and PM2.5 are vehicular emissions, industry, building construction, quarrying and mining cement plants, ceramic industries and burning of fossil fuels in power plants revealed that, in India more than one million people died in 2015 due to particulate matter pollution.

Kannur has the highest air pollution in Kerala. The State Pollution Control Board (PCB) is currently monitoring ambient air quality at 30 stations as part of its ongoing mission to reduce air pollution.

Can anything be done to improve the air quality in Kannur?

Air quality is a major concern in cities because of the effect air pollution has on public health and the environment. Air pollution kills several million humans every year. The WHO says about 9 out of 10 people breathe polluted air, every day. Accurate air quality monitoring helps in assessing the pollutant levels with respect to the accepted ambient air quality standards.

During the lockdown brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic air quality was seen to improve.

Nitrogen oxide and nitrogen dioxide concentrations were decreased by 61 per cent and 71 per cent respectively. The concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 were observed to decline significantly by 61 per cent and 53 per cent respectively. This was mainly due to the lack of traffic on the then empty roads and the lack of some industries polluting the skies with their emissions

What impact does polluted air have on human health?

Even young, healthy people can be affected by air pollution. This can include respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties during exercise or prolonged outdoor activities. The actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of your exposure to the polluted air.

High levels of air pollution can cause immediate problems such as aggravated cardiovascular and respiratory illness. High pollution levels add stress to the heart and lungs, which must work harder to supply the body with the correct amount of oxygen. Cells within the respiratory system are vulnerable and can easily be damaged.

If the level of exposure continues for a longer period of time then this can lead to the accelerated aging of the lungs which in turn leads to loss of lung capacity and thus a decrease in their function. Diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and possibly cancer develop under such circumstances. This can lead to a shortened lifespan.

Of course, some people are more susceptible to poor quality air than others. Individuals with pre-existing respiratory problems will be amongst the first to suffer. Pregnant women and senior citizens as well as children under the age of 14 years should take extra care when exposed. Those who need to work outside or who take exercise outdoors will also have to be more aware of the situation.