New Delhi: Delhi Air Quality Index (AQI) continues to deteriorate as it crossed the 400 mark on Sunday, two days after Diwali. The air pollution level now lies in the alarming ‘hazardous’ category in the national capital as of 8:30 am, which is detrimental to the health of people living in Delhi and its adjoining areas.
A thick layer of smog engulfed the national capital, and the AQI was recorded above 300 in most areas, making Delhi-NCR’s PM2.5 levels over 50 times more threatening than the WHO-prescribed limit, according to the AQICN data.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the following air pollution limits:
- PM2.5: The annual average concentration should not exceed 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3). The 24-hour average exposure should not exceed 15 µg/m3 more than 3–4 days per year.
- NO2: The annual average concentration should not exceed 10 µg/m3.
- Ozone: The peak season mean 8-hour concentration should not exceed 60 µg/m3.
AQI levels in various Delhi areas on Sunday as of 9 am:
- Anand Vihar – 532 (hazardous)
- Alipur – 318 (hazardous)
- Punjabi Bagh – 381 (hazardous)
- Narela – 295 (very poor)
- RK Puram 329 – (hazardous)
- Bawana – 382 ((hazardous)
Delhi air pollution and Diwali
On Friday a day after the Diwali celebration, the city’s air quality was recorded in the ‘very poor’ category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Most areas in the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) over 350, raising health concerns for residents.
An analysis by Centre for Science and Environment has drawn attention to the season’s first smog — on Diwali day. It also said that the PM2.5 concentration this Diwali was 34% higher than in 2022, despite both occurring in the month of October.
Diwali night this year also had higher nitrogen oxide levels than in 2023. In addition to the local cracker bursting, there was also a sharp rise in pollutants resulting from harvest stubble burning, accounting for 27% of the city’s pollutants that day. The analysis fo und that PM2.5 showed a spike of 46% from Oct 28 through to Oct 31, the festival day.
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