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MUMBAI: Mumbai’s suburbs such as Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Bhandup, Mulund, Kurla, Andheri, Vile Parle and Kandivli are more prone to Covid-19 due to prolonged and excessive exposure to air pollutants, states a new study. The first-of-its-kind ward-level study by the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS) points to a significant association between pollution and Covid-19 in Mumbai.
While the concentration of particulate matter (PM10) is much more than the WHO-specified guidelines in the entire city, higher prevalence of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in suburban wards such as S, T, N, R-South and K-East may have compounded the Covid crisis, states the study.
Updated:
June 29, 2021 10:06 IST
State’s COVID-19 bio-medical waste was just 84 tonnes in June 2020, which increased to 588.03 tonnes in August 2020
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A file photo of a worker disposing bio medical waste from the COVID-19 ward of a hospital.
State’s COVID-19 bio-medical waste was just 84 tonnes in June 2020, which increased to 588.03 tonnes in August 2020
With a massive increase in the quantum of COVID-19-related bio-medical waste (BMW) from the hospitals, quarantine centers, and laboratories, Karnataka emerged among highest COVID-19 waste generator states in the country, between June and December, 2020, according to a latest research on bio-medical waste.
In state-wise, Maharashtra has highest average generator of COVID-19 waste - 789.99 tonnes per month. Karnataka accounted for 301.55 tonnes.
A gap analysis study said 70% of the states do not have well-established systems to monitor common BMW treatment facilities (CBMWTFs) and only 12 have upgraded as per new emission rules. Two hundred CBMWTFs are available across India, but are insufficient.