Residents and authorities need to pause and reflect upon the increase in air pollution of the city as they gear up to observe the World Environment Day on Wednesday.

According to the Annual Air Pollution Report, 2012-13, of Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB), three of the four pollutants — sulphur dioxide (SO2), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and respiratory suspended particulate matter (RSPM) — have increased in the air over Patna since last year. While the volume of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) has dipped slightly this year, it is still above the standard limit. (See graphic)

Environmental scientists claim that vehicular emission and traffic congestions are responsible for the increase in substance that vitiates the air.

“The atmosphere contains nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone and noble gases like neon, argon and helium. In Patna, while the level of harmful gases like CO and SO2 are below the permissible limit, NO2 is above the standard limit. Dust particles, especially RSPM, have been recorded way above the standard limit,” said S.N. Jaiswal, a senior scientist at BSPCB.

He added that vehicular emission and traffic congestion were responsible for the spurt in pollutants.

The sale of cars and two-wheelers has indeed increased in leaps and bounds over the past five years, adding to the pollution.

Authorities claim that they are doing their best to check the alarming increase.

“There are around 30 pollution under control (PUC) centres in Patna. The fine for violating pollution norms is up to Rs 1,000 according to Sub-Section 2 of Section 190 of Central Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. We conduct drives from time to time to catch vehicles running without PUC clearance. We collected Rs 5.44 lakh by imposing penalty on 544 vehicles in Patna district in the last financial year (2012-13),” said Dinesh Kumar Rai, district transport officer.

Fines, however, have failed to check the forward march of pollution and it is a cause of anxiety for citizens.

RSPM — particulate matter smaller than 10micro metres — stands at an alarming 193mg per cubic metres, more than thrice its standard measure. These tiny, soot-like particles, along with NO2, can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases like asthma, cough, bronchitis and lung congestion.

S.K. Jaiswal, head of the department of ear, nose and throat at Patna Medical College and Hospital, said: “Particles smaller than 10microns gets filtered by the naval cavity to reach lungs and causes damage to the respiratory system. Asthma patients need to be particularly careful.”

Others, too, can hardly breathe easy.