After Five Days Of 'Severe' Air Quality, Delhi's AQI Improves To 'Very Poor'

In some relief to the residents of Delhi and adjoining areas who had been struggling with toxic air pollution, the air quality in the national capital improved to 'very poor' on Tuesday morning.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 394 on Tuesday morning, which is a marginal improvement from 421 recorded at 4 pm on Monday.

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What improved Delhi's AQI?

This was the first time after five days the AQI in Delhi came down below the 400 mark, beyond which it is categorised as 'severe'.

An increase in surface winds along with the restrictions across Delhi and NCR under stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has resulted in the air quality improving slightly on Tuesday morning.

Why Delhi's air is still unsafe?

But the air in Delhi is yet far from being considered safe as the concentration of PM2.5 ¨C fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and triggering health problems ¨C still exceeded the government-prescribed safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven to eight times in the capital.

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It was 30 to 40 times the healthy limit of 15 micrograms per cubic metre set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

What happens when you breathe toxic air?

Breathing in the polluted air of Delhi is equivalent to the harmful effects of smoking approximately 10 cigarettes a day, said Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant in pulmonology and critical care at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.

The doctor said prolonged exposure to high levels of pollution can cause or exacerbate respiratory problems such as asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and can dramatically raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.

When will Delhi's AQI improve?

While the air quality has improved marginally, it is likely to be short-lived as the Ministry of Earth Sciences' Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi-NCR has predicted that the region is likely to experience severe air quality for another five to six days.

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With Diwali just days away, when, despite a ban on bursting firecrackers in place, it is hardly enforced, the air quality is likely to only worsen.

A combination of factors, including firecrackers, stubble burning, vehicular and industrial emissions, along with changes in weather and wind patterns, have been blamed for the toxic air quality in Delhi and adjoining areas in the winters.

According to the CPCB data, the air quality in Delhi is at its worst between November 1 and 15 every year, when the stubble burning in neighbouring states is at its highest.

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