Tough Time For Those With Respiratory Disorders Jaipur: Call it post-Diwali blues as number of people with respiratory problems queuing outside city hospitals saw a sharp rise over the last two days. The level of air pollution increased significantly during Diwali compared to previous year. At certain places, it was two times the figures recorded for 2011. According to the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board (RSPCB) which measured the air quality at its monitoring stations, in almost every part of the city, except one place, the pollution level went up during the festival. Road number 5 on the Sikar Road was the most polluted part in the city. Against the standard RSPM (Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter) of 100 (measured in per microgram of cubic area) for 24 hours, the RSPM for Sikar Road was recorded at 434 on Diwali. RSPM are the minute particles, which increase in number due to bursting of firecrackers and other types of polluting agents like emission from industries. An increase in RSPM spells trouble for those suffering from respiratory diseases such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. These tiny particles enter the respiratory tract aggravating the respiratory problems. On Tuesday and Wednesday, nearly 50 patients suffering from respiratory diseases rushed to the Sawai Man Singh (SMS) hospital’s emergency ward for immediate medical attention. They were given oxygen therapy, a SMS hospital administration official said. An RSPCB official said, “It was observed that the concentration of RSPM increased on Diwali at all our air quality monitoring stations.” Except Malviya Industrial Area (MIA), which registered an RSPM of 105, the pollution levels shot up in all other parts of the city during the festivity. In residential areas, the air pollution was much higher than the standard level. Places like Jhalana, Ajmeri Gate, Chandpole and Sikar Road recorded high levels of pollution. Ajmeri Gate emerged as one of the most polluted areas in the city, in terms of air and noise. On Diwali, RSPM level in 2011 at Ajmeri Gate was 121, which increased to 330 this time. Noise pollution too increased from 71.2 decibel to 76.5 decibel. Being a commercial zone, the noise level standard for Ajmeri Gate is 65 decibel during the day and 55 decibel at night. Chandpole fared worse where the RSPM level touched 360 compared to 206 in 2011. In Jhalana industrial area, the air pollution level increased by two times. In 2011, the RSPM level in Jhalana was 119, which rose to 286 this year. Besides RSPM, the level of suspended particulate matter (SPM) also increased considerably. SPMs are bigger in size and less harmful.