The air quality levels in Delhi have surged at all monitoring stations. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, at 11 am on October 23, 2024, AQI levels across different areas of Delhi range between 281 and 416, signifying conditions from severe to very severe. Living in Delhi now means inhaling the equivalent of four to six cigarettes daily, without actually lighting one up.
The AQI varies across Delhi's stations. A single cigarette emits about 64.8 AQI worth of pollutants. Consequently, people in Jahangirpuri and Anand Vihar are experiencing the smoke of six cigarettes without any financial outlay. The Air Quality Index remains consistently poor every year, with little improvement. As winter approaches, visibility declines, and facemasks become increasingly common.
Source: aajtak
The sudden rise in AQI by the last week of October has raised concerns among citizens, scientists, doctors, administrations, and government bodies. There is a 100% chance that this will escalate during Diwali due to inevitable firecracker explosions, despite any prohibitions placed on their use or sale by authorities.
Six Major Causes Driving Delhi-NCR Pollution...
Particulate Matter Concentration...
The airborne particulate matter (PM) content in Delhi has spiked due to emissions from vehicles, industries, stubble burning, and various other sources. During October and November, concentrations of PM 2.5 and PM 10 increase significantly.
Stubble Burning...
In the chilly months, farmers in Punjab and Haryana typically burn leftover crop residues, known as stubble burning. This year, the farming season has stretched beyond its usual timeline, resulting in heightened incidents of field burnings in these regions.
Source: aajtak
Wind Patterns...
Wind plays a significant role in polluting Delhi's air. The direction, speed, and humidity of the wind channel toxins into Delhi-NCR's atmosphere. Post-monsoon and pre-winter winds blow from Haryana and Punjab towards Delhi, originating from Pakistan. Accompanying these winds is stubble smoke, enriched with moisture, which hovers close to the ground as visible smog.
Temperature Variation...
The fluctuation in Delhi's winter temperatures also intensifies pollution, known as temperature inversion. This phenomenon creates a layer of warm air that traps cold air beneath it, keeping pollutants near the surface. Temperature shifts could result from vehicle emissions, industrial activities, or stubble burning.
Source: aajtak
Vehicle Emissions...
Delhi's dense population is accompanied by a colossal number of vehicles, accounting for 25% of PM2.5 emissions. The industrial emissions from within and around Delhi complicate the atmosphere further, exacerbating pollution levels.
Other Pollution Sources...
Dry winds from arid areas bring particulate matter, while chemical emissions from firecrackers during Diwali, along with household biomass burning, significantly escalate winter pollution. According to an IIT Kanpur study, biomass burning accounts for 17-26% of PM emissions in Delhi-NCR.
Understanding AQI...
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is a metric used to report daily air quality. It indicates the cleanliness or pollution levels of the air you breathe and its potential health impacts. AQI focuses on the health implications of breathing polluted air within a few hours or days.
Source: aajtak
The AQI aims to help people understand how the air quality around them affects their health. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) computes AQI for five major air pollutants, which have national standards to protect public health.
How is Air Pollution Measured?
The AQI serves as a unit for measuring air purity, revealing the cleanliness of an area's air. Different categories shed light on the pollution level at the site. AQI primarily focuses on eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb), using PM2.5 and PM10 to measure toxic and particulate matter.
