Delhi’s air quality has once again dropped to the “severe plus” category, making it the most polluted city in India. The real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) in various parts of the capital has exceeded 500. At noon, the Wazirpur monitoring station in Delhi recorded the highest level with an AQI of 859.
The concentration of PM2.5 in Delhi is currently 96.2 times higher than the air quality guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO). PM2.5 refers to fine particles with diameters of 2.5 micrometers or smaller, which can enter the bloodstream and cause adverse health effects. Meanwhile, PM10, with a diameter of 10 microns or smaller, is also present in significant proportions.
The PM2.5 level in Delhi was reported at 481 micrograms per cubic meter, while PM10 was the main pollutant in Delhi and its neighboring cities. All air quality monitoring stations in Delhi recorded PM2.5 levels of over 450 µg/m³.
One of the factors contributing to the pollution is the burning of crop stubble in Punjab and Haryana, along with vehicular and industrial pollution in Delhi-NCR. Stubble burning incidents increased significantly on October 26 and continued to rise on October 29. However, there has been a 57% decrease in farm fires compared to the same period last year.
To address the issue, the government has implemented stage 3 measures, including a ban on construction work in areas where the AQI exceeds 400. Vehicular emissions and low wind speed are also contributing factors. Higher wind speed helps disperse pollutants, but the current wind speed in Delhi is only 7.4 km/hr.
The severe pollution has severe health impacts on people of all age groups, including unborn babies. Experts have compared the quality of the air in Delhi to smoking 25-30 cigarettes. Air pollution is known to cause various diseases, including obesity, asthma, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and lung cancers.
The situation in Delhi calls for immediate action to improve air quality and protect the health of its residents.
