somaiya.edu
Beyond the lush green campus and buzzing students, did you know that the Somaiya Vidyavihar campus in the heart of Mumbai is also a great place to breathe fresh air?
A simple inquiry study by Dr. Siddappa S Bhusnoor and Mr. Akshay P Save of Mechanical Engineering, K J Somaiya College of Engineering, demonstrated that the campus ambient air contains less particulate matter (PM) than outside campus. Combined suspended solid and liquid particles in air constitute PM - lesser the diameter, higher the risk. Particles less than 2.5 microns can enter the lungs and then into the bloodstream, which could pose health risks.
Using HAL-HPC601, an instrument that can record particulate matter ranging between 0.4-2 micron, the team took readings from 16 different locations within the SVV campus between Jan 2020-Mar 2020. An average of 10 readings every first week of the month recorded PM 2..5 values lesser than 15 micrograms per cubic meter of air, in all the locations- approximately 50% lesser than the recommended values – permissible limits as laid down by pollution control regulatory bodies.
"We are planning a full-fledged study at the various Somaiya campuses based in Maharashtra & Karnataka and other satellite centers of Somaiya Vidyavihar," says Dr. Bhusnoor, the lead investigator of the study.
Somaiya Vidyavihar campus is a regular walkers & joggers spot for more than 400+ people on average every day. In this COVID-19 era, clean, unpolluted breathing air is a welcome & good sign, but to breathe healthy – a blessing!
Coordinator, Research Promotion-SIRAC
Jan 5, 2021
