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Delhi was the most polluted capital in the world in 2023, study finds
Residents of India's capital Delhi woke up to a thick layer of smog as air quality deteriorated to severe levels in the city.
Delhi and its neighboring cities experience pollution levels that are at least 30-35 times higher than the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Every year, Delhi and the northern states face hazardous air during the winter months from October to January due to falling temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speed, emissions from vehicles and stubble burning.
This time, experts believe that the situation is likely to worsen in the coming days.
According to IQAir, a Switzerland-based air quality index (AQI) monitoring group, pollution levels in several areas of Delhi touched the 500 mark on Wednesday morning.
The AQI measures levels of particulate matter, also called PM 2.5, in the air. These tiny particles can enter the lungs and cause many diseases.
According to WHO guidelines, air with AQI values of 100 or less is considered satisfactory for breathing, while values between 400 and 500 indicate that pollution levels are “severe” in an area. .
Satellite towns of Noida and Gurgaon also recorded AQI levels touching the 500 mark.
Several northern states have experienced toxic air and poor visibility in recent weeks. Flights to and from Delhi were canceled or delayed due to low visibility.
The smog is so thick that it is visible even from space. A few days ago, NASA shared satellite images of a blanket of smog engulfing parts of northern India and neighboring Pakistan.
Toxic air also affects people's health.
A survey conducted by LocalCircles, an online community platform, in Delhi and neighboring cities found that 81% of families said at least one member had suffered health problems due to pollution in the last three weeks . More than a third of those surveyed said they purchased cough syrup during this time.
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Commuters drive amid dense smog in Delhi on Monday morning
The Delhi government has adopted its phased response action plan – which bans all activities involving the use of coal and firewood, as well as the use of diesel generators for non-emergency services – but this does not did not prevent the city from experiencing toxic levels of pollution.
Authorities also urged residents to stay home as much as possible and use public transportation to reduce vehicle emissions.
Delhi was the most polluted capital in the world in 2023, according to IQAir.
India is also ranked the third most polluted country in the world after its neighbors Bangladesh and Pakistan, IQAir said.
Air pollution is a serious problem in several Indian cities.
Experts say rapid industrialization coupled with weak enforcement of environmental laws have played a role in increasing pollution in the country.
India has seen a lot of development in recent decades, but poor industrial regulation means factories fail to comply with pollution control measures. Rapid construction has also contributed to rising pollution levels.
