Residents in the nation’s capital woke to find a deteriorating air quality situation on Tuesday, as AQI moved perilously near the severe zone at some places. As reported by the data, an AQI of 384 at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday in Delhi was recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board; reflective of a hazardous environment that is adverse to healthy persons while posing serious risks for people with pre-existing health conditions.
Air Quality Index: What the Numbers Mean
The AQI is a standardized measure for air quality, where its measurement depends on pollutant concentration in the air. The CPCB has defined AQI levels as given below:
Air Quality Index in AQI Scale:
Good 0-50
Satisfactory 51-100
Moderate 101-200
Poor 201-300
Very Poor 301-400
Severe 401-500
An AQI of 400 to 500 is considered “severe,” which means that the air quality would be harmful to healthy individuals and aggravate severe effects on people with respiratory or heart diseases. The exposure to pollutants will increase respiratory irritation, eye irritation, cardiovascular stress, and other adverse health effects with increased accumulation, especially among the vulnerable population, including children and older adults.
Delhi AQI Across Locations
According to reports from the same CPCB app that provides real-time AQI updates, of 38 monitoring stations in Delhi, 13 fell in the severe category, whose readings were above 400. These included some places like Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Dwarka, Nehru Nagar, Punjabi Bagh, among others. Each one of them reported an AQI level that goes beyond safety standards and puts residents living in these regions at the risk of health complications.
Delhi’s 24-hr average AQI in the city stood at 381 on Monday, the second worst in India. Air quality in the early hours of Tuesday decreased slightly to 384 while readings above 300 over several areas indicate the prevailing air quality crisis in Delhi. Winter is arriving now, and lower temperatures will increase humidity, pushing pollutants levels further up to contribute to health issues during these coming weeks.
Health Effects of Poor Quality of Air
Poor quality of air significantly affects the respiratory and cardiovascular health, and the effects are more severe in urban areas due to the persistence of pollutants for a long period. The CPCB reported that severe AQI may lead to serious health conditions mainly among those suffering from chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Some of the symptoms observed with high AQI levels are:
Breathlessness
Coughing and wheezing
Chest pain
Irritation in the eyes
Aggravation of asthma
For healthy people, high AQI levels for extended periods result in inflammation of the airways, reduced lung function, and increased susceptibility to infections. Experts advise the residents to avert outdoor activities during peak pollution hours and opt for wearing N95 masks if there is a need to go outdoors.
Weather Factors Causing Pollution:
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded a minimum temperature of 17.6 degrees Celsius, slightly above the season average. However, combined high humidity at 94% at 8:30 a.m. with low temperatures and has seen conditions trap pollutants close to the ground, leading to poor air dispersion and prolonged exposure to toxins.
Whereas IMD predicted the day to have clear skies, and a maximum of 33 degrees Celsius, the climate might continue to trap all the pollutants within the city. The lower wind speeds in the upcoming days because of the seasonal factors tend to make pollution levels peak.
Reasons Behind the Pollution Levels of Delhi
The problem of air pollution in Delhi is a multisourced problem. Factors contributing towards it include:
Vehicular Emissions:High vehicular density in Delhi produces nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, which both degrade the air quality to a great extent.
Construction Dust:Rapid construction activities contribute to particulate matter, which if stays suspended in the air, further degrades AQI levels.
Industrial Pollution:Factories in and around Delhi produce harmful pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter.
Crop Stubble Burning: Crop stubble burning in the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana during winter months pollutes Delhi and, hence, causes a shoot-up in AQI readings during the seasons
.
Government and Public Response
Some other steps undertaken by the Delhi government include restricted usage of certain vehicles, measures to control dust generation during construction activities, and advisory on lesser outside exposure when the air quality is harmful. Critics say short-term remedies cannot resolve a deep-rooted problem related to air quality.
Public awareness campaigns are conducted to promote responsible practices, like carpooling, use of public transport, and non-burning of waste. The schools and organizations are recommended to minimize outdoor activities. The medical professionals have appealed to the residents to adopt preventive measures, especially among children and the elderly.
Recommendations for Residents
Based on the current AQI, the following measures are recommended to the residents to reduce health impacts from poor air quality:
Avoid Outdoor Activities: Avoid physical activities, especially during high AQI levels.
Use Air Purifiers: Indoor air purifiers should be used to reduce the level of pollutants in confined spaces.
Wear Masks: Wear masks, preferably N95, for important outdoor activities.
Close windows and doors: Indoor spaces should be kept closed to reduce the entry of airborne pollutants.
Hydrate: Drink lots of water to keep hydrated and minimize the effects of air pollution on the respiratory system.
Looking Ahead: Long-Term Remedies
While the air quality in Delhi increasingly turns into a routine nuisance, voices for long-term policy interventions that address pollution sources at their very roots come to the fore. Possible avenues could well include stricter industrial emission standards, a greater reliance on electric vehicles, better public transport infrastructure, and abatement of crop stubble burning. Another vital interventional activity regarding crop residue burning is state-to-state coordination with neighboring states when one considers the seasonal peak of pollution in Delhi.
Improvement of Delhi’s air quality and a healthier environment for its people require long-term planning for the environment and sustainable practices. Until that time, they would have to suffer with the risks that polluted air has at present, mainly when the seasons are colder, because air pollution normally peaks during those seasons.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)