Sat Jan 18 02:41:28 UTC 2025: ## Mumbai Marathon Air Quality Raises Health Concerns
**Mumbai, January 18, 2025** – A citizens’ science initiative by the Awaaz Foundation has revealed dangerously high levels of PM2.5 particulate matter along the route of the upcoming Tata Mumbai Marathon, prompting concerns about the health of participating athletes.
Measurements taken at eight locations along the marathon route on January 17th showed PM2.5 concentrations consistently exceeding the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit of 15 micrograms per cubic meter. The lowest concentration, recorded on Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan Road, still reached 95-105 micrograms per cubic meter. The highest levels, 125-154 micrograms per cubic meter, were found in Mahim Retibunder.
Awaaz Foundation founder Sumaira Abdulali has written to the Bruhanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), urging them to conduct independent air quality tests using their mobile monitoring vans. She also called for official health advisories to be issued to marathon participants, highlighting the serious health risks posed by poor air quality, particularly for endurance athletes. The letter emphasizes the consistently poor air quality in the city over recent months.
The marathon, organized by Tata and Procam International, is scheduled for January 19th. The Awaaz Foundation’s findings cast a shadow over the event, raising questions about the safety and well-being of the athletes.
First Piper 