Pollution In Delhi – A Slow Poison That Kills Innocents

You are not a smoker, but do you know you are still under the threat of smoking more than 100 cigarettes daily? Wondering what is the line you just read? Well! We are talking about Delhi-NCR region. The massive pollution in this region is a threat to not only mankind, but also animals and plants. 

Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi – Pollution In Delhi

A heavy layer of harmful smog covered most of Northern India this week after thick fog during the night. In some parts of Delhi (NCT), the air became very dangerous, reaching a record level of 1,081. The report is as per live rankings by the Swiss group IQAir on Monday 18th November 2024.

Experts explain that AQI scores can differ because each country uses its own method to calculate them. This means the same amount of a pollutant can lead to different AQI scores in different countries.

The Central Pollution Control Board said Delhi’s air is getting worse, reaching the “severe plus” level with an Air Quality Index (AQI) close to 500 at many monitoring stations on Monday evening. 

As of Monday evening, the AQI was: 

• Anand Vihar – 500
• Vivek Vihar – 498
• Chandni Chowk – 480.

India’s pollution control authority said Delhi’s 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) was 484, which is called “severe plus” and is the highest this year. 

Some Steps By the Delhi And Central Government – Pollution In Delhi

The increasing pollution is affecting daily life in the city, and emergency actions are being taken by the AAP and central Government.  A day after the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and nearby areas imposed stricter anti-pollution rules, the Delhi government took several steps.Under the fourth stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), public transport is being encouraged. 

To reduce pollution in Delhi, several major steps have been taken, such as

•  Introducing CNG vehicles
• Using catalytic converters
• Trucks, BS-III petrol cars, and BS-IV diesel cars (four-wheelers) are banned in the Delhi-NCR area. 
• Switching to lead-free petrol with lower sulfur content
• Government also stopped inter-state buses that are not electric or CNG
• Removing old vehicles from the roads
• Changing government office timings.
• Restricting some types of construction work
• Recently implemented the “odd-even” rule for petrol and diesel vehicles.

Reasons behind the pollution in NCR during October And November Every year

We all know that Delhi has very high pollution during winter. But have you ever wondered why Delhi’s air pollution is so bad every winter?  There are many reasons for this, and we will explain them to you. This will help you understand the environment you live in and whether it is safe and healthy for you.

1. Winter Inversion:
   • Cold air is denser and stays close to the ground, while warm air forms a lid above it, trapping pollutants.
   • Pollutants cannot rise and disperse, worsening air quality, especially at night.
2. Smog Formation:
   • Smoke and fog mix to create smog, reducing visibility and being harmful to health.
   • Smog traps pollutants close to the ground, increasing health risks.
3. Landlocked Geography:
   • Delhi is surrounded by land, so polluted air has no escape route.
   • Slow wind speeds during winter allow pollution to remain in the area longer.
4. Sources of Pollution:
   • Transport Emissions: Vehicles release harmful gases and particles.
   • Dust: Construction and road dust add to air pollution.
   • Industries: Factories emit pollutants into the air.
5. Stubble Burning:
   • Farmers burn leftover crop residue (stubble) after harvesting, producing smoke that travels to Delhi.
   • Contributes 19-22% to Delhi’s pollution during winter.
6. Firecrackers:
   • Firecrackers during Diwali release toxic chemicals, metals, and smoke.
   • Pollution from fireworks increases breathing problems by 30-40% in humans.

These factors combine to make Delhi’s air pollution a severe health issue every winter.

The best ways to protect yourself from pollution are:

•  Wear N95 masks whenever you step out of your house
• Use Air purifier at home 
• If possible take steam baths
• Eat healthy food that are rich in vitamins & minerals to boost your immunity
• Check the AQI level regularly using an App or news channels
• Avoid high intensity exercises which could otherwise lead to shortness of breath
• Keep the windows of your home closed as much as possible
• Obey the rules made by the Delhi government to curb pollution
• Plant indoor plants that can help to reduce the side-effects of pollution at home.
• If possible ask your office to provide work from home during these two months