Delhi air pollution nearly 14 times above World Health Organization safe limit after Diwali
The national capital recorded its most polluted Diwali in three years as firecrackers were lit across the city despite a ban on their use.
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Join our WhatsApp Community to receive travel deals, free stays, and special offers!
- Join Now -
Delhi’s air pollution level on Friday morning was nearly 14 times more than the “safe” limit prescribed by the World Health Organization, reported The Hindu.
Despite being prohibited, firecrackers were lit across the city late into the night on Thursday as part of Diwali festivities.
The national capital recorded its most polluted Diwali in three years on Thursday, PTI reported.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the average concentration of PM2.5 in the national capital was 209.3 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre of air) at 8 am on Friday.
PM2.5 refers to respirable airborne particles smaller than 0.0025 mm in width.
India’s National Ambient Air Quality Standards prescribe a “safe” PM2.5 concentration of 60 μg/m3, averaged over 24 hours. The World Health Organization prescribes 15 μg/m3 as the acceptable limit for human exposure.
On Friday, the average Air Quality Index value in Delhi was recorded to be in the “very poor” category, with a reading of 362 at 9 am, according to PTI. At 7 am, Anand Vihar recorded an Air Quality Index value of 395 while Aya Nagar saw 352, Jahangirpuri saw 390 and Dwarka saw 376, The Hindu reported.
An index value between 0 and 50 indicates “good” air quality, between 51 and 100 indicates “satisfactory” air quality and between 101 and 200 indicates “moderate” air...
