How Delhi's air quality is leaving residents gasping for their lives

With an air quality index (AQI) of 504, Delhi’s air remained extremely polluted for the third day in a row on Saturday morning.

Increased wind speeds caused the pollution levels to somewhat decrease overnight, but the concentration of harmful PM 2.5 in the National Capital and its neighbouring regions remained over 80 times the World Health Organization’s limit, according to NDTV.

Today, Delhi remains enveloped in a suffocating layer of toxic smog, which caused medical professionals to voice concern over the rising incidence of respiratory and eye conditions among the populace. When leaving their houses, they have asked residents to wear masks.

#WATCH | Delhi | ANI drone camera footage from the Signature Bridge shows a thick layer of haze in the air. Visuals shot at 7:45 am today.

The air quality in Delhi continues to be in ‘Severe’ category as per CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board). pic.twitter.com/2VlcdHUVA1

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2023

Here’s how the toxic air is affecting your health.

Damaging impacts of air pollution

PM 2.5 levels increased to seven to eight times the government’s acceptable limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre in certain locations throughout the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR), which can lodge deeply in the lungs and cause health issues. The WHO’s safe level of five micrograms per cubic metre was 80–100 times higher than this.

Shortness of breath, burning and watery eyes, headaches, exhaustion, and a protracted cough are among the symptoms that have been linked to breathing in toxic air.

#WATCH | “Since 3-4 days, pollution is very high. Delhi govt must take some initiative…now the situation is such that we have to wear masks…we are having difficulty in breathing,” says Krishan Kant, a resident of Delhi pic.twitter.com/HCC5C2HTKQ

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2023

Dr Nikhil Modi, a doctor at Apollo Hospital in the National Capital, told ANI, “The number of patients with breathing problems has increased, with more people having coughs, colds, watery and irritated eyes, and breathing problems. People of all ages are affected by this. It is time for us to wear masks and go out only when needed.”

Strong evidence links air pollution to the rise in a number of diseases, highlighting the critical need for environmental protection and healthier air. The rising pollution is also linked to a wide range of health problems, some of which may be fatal.

#WATCH | Delhi: On high pollution, a local resident, Dr Nagendra Gupta says, “There are difficulties. During the morning activities like running and cycling, we face respiratory issues, and we experience inflammation in the eyes. We try and use masks but the problem still… pic.twitter.com/Kp1aD5FpFs

— ANI (@ANI) October 29, 2023

According to Reuters, poor air quality is not only affecting humans but also animals.

“Breathing trouble can develop into pneumonia or other ailments in younger animals. If possible, avoid taking pets out on morning walks for a few days till the air improves,” said Prabhat Gangwar, a veterinarian at animal welfare NGO Friendicoes.

Other long-term conditions

According to studies, lung diseases can be accelerated by air pollution just as much as by smoking a pack of cigarettes. This is especially true with ozone, which is becoming more prevalent due to climate change.

Asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are all brought on by air pollution. Breathing becomes more difficult and lung function gradually decreases when breathing in polluted air due to fine particulate matter and hazardous substances that aggravate pre-existing disorders and irritate the respiratory system, as per India Today.

Dr Arvind Kumar, senior lung specialist at Medanta Hospital, told ANI, “From head to toe, there’s no organ in the body that escapes the ill effects of air pollution. There is now evidence to say that it causes obesity, it causes asthma. When obesity and exposure to air pollution are both present, the chances of asthma become many times higher, as was shown by the Lung Care Foundation. In a study of 1,100 children in Delhi, we found that one out of three children is suffering from asthma, and when obesity was also present, this number went higher.”

#WATCH | Gurugram: On air pollution, Senior Lung specialist, Medanta Hospital Dr Arvind Kumar says, “…All age groups are adversely affected by air pollution. You might wonder how an unborn child is affected because that child is not breathing. When the child’s mother is… pic.twitter.com/ftZ0c8fEYE

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2023

He also said that the chances of developing breast cancer are higher in people breathing toxic air.

“Three days ago, there was a study from Europe showing that the incidence of breast cancer is higher in the population exposed to air pollution… It causes a huge number of diseases and disabilities. There are millions of premature deaths… There’s data from the University of Chicago which says that in Northern India, on average, each of us loses about 9–10 years of our lives because of exposure to the levels of air pollution… To summarize, it’s a massive health emergency…”

There appears to be a concerning link between type 2 diabetes incidence and air pollution in Chennai and Delhi, The Hindu reported citing two studies that were published in international publications.

According to the research published in BMJ Open Diabetes Research and Care, “younger participants were more susceptible to developing (the disease) in Delhi, whereas hypertensive participants… were more susceptible to developing type 2 diabetes against long-term exposure to PM 2.5 in Chennai.”

“Data strongly support a temporal association between high levels of ambient air pollution, higher systolic blood pressure, and incident hypertension,” according to the other study, which was published in the journal Hypertension.

Over nine million people globally are killed by pollution each year, as per a 2020 study published in Lancet Planetary Health Pollution. This makes pollution the “largest existential threat” to humankind.

Nonetheless, the study found that air pollution kills more people in India than anywhere else in the world.

Declining air quality in Delhi-NCR

Delhi, a metropolis of over 33 million people, is often named the world’s most polluted city. However, there has been a drop in the quality of the air in the National Capital and its surrounding regions over the past few weeks.

An AQI of 0-50 is considered good while anything between 400-500 affects healthy people and is a danger to those with existing diseases.

Delhi’s pollution levels in October were at their lowest since 2020, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Reuters quoted regional officials as saying a seasonal combination of lower temperatures, a lack of wind and stubble burning in neighbouring farm states had caused a spike in air pollutants.

#WATCH | Visuals of stubble burning from Punjab’s Moga (03/11) pic.twitter.com/TsiXcZY3it

— ANI (@ANI) November 4, 2023

Farm fires have increased by 740 per cent in Punjab in recent times; on one day, almost a thousand were reported, as per The Guardian.

Construction, garbage burning at waste plants, and vehicle emissions are further sources of pollution in the city.

But, according to reports, Delhi’s pollution early warning systems were unable to foresee the even more abrupt deterioration of the weather that happened late on Thursday.

The University of Chicago’s energy policy institute produced this year’s AQI, which indicates that Delhities’ exposure to bad air quality may reduce their lives by 11.9 years.

Some ways to keep yourself safe

Close windows and doors to reduce indoor pollution on days with poor air quality. To enhance indoor air circulation, use fans and air purifiers.

For indoor air quality maintenance, use camphor. Ancient Indian traditional medicine systems claim that camphor has numerous medical uses in addition to purifying the air. It not only eliminates the air of contaminants and microorganisms, but it also unclogs nasal blockages brought on by congestion.

Minimise your time spent outside, particularly if you have respiratory issues.

When going outside, wear respirators that can filter out tiny particles, such as N95 or N99. It does provide some protection, so make sure they fit correctly and there are no side leaks.

Shower to cleanse your skin and hair of contaminants after being outside.

Utilise apps or websites to monitor the local air quality.

Avoid burning rubbish or wood because it releases particles into the air.

With inputs from agencies