Toxic air now a year-long problem in Delhi, not winters alone; here's why
Toxic air now a year-long problem in Delhi, not winters alone; here's why on Business Standard. Delhi experienced zero days of 'good' quality air between March and May 2018, according to AQI values from data compiled by the CPCB's monthly air ambience reports
Latest News Delhi toxic air is no longer limited to winters. While Delhi is experiencing high levels of air pollution largely caused by a dust storm hitting western India, high 24-hour average levels of PM 2.5 have been recorded across the National Capital Region (NCR) between March and May 2018, an IndiaSpend analysis of CPCB data shows. This indicates that poor air quality is a problem consistently affecting the region, beyond winter and individual weather events. Air quality in Delhi is now at ‘hazardous’ levels, with areas in the national capital registering an air quality index value–a composite measure of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate pollution–of 999 on June 13, 2018, according to the World Air Quality Index. The Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) air quality index is currently registering ‘severe’ air pollution across the city, with 24-hour average levels of PM 2.5–fine particulate matter 30 times finer than a human hair, which are known to pose the greatest risk to humans–over 250 microgram per cubic metre (µg/m³) of air. Levels this high may cause “respiratory impact even
on healthy people, and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart disease. The health impacts may be experienced even during “light physical activity�.
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