The air quality in Delhi took a concerning turn on Friday as a drop in temperatures and sluggish nighttime winds allowed the accumulation of pollutants, resulting in the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a severe level of 401 at 8 am.
This shift follows a gradual increase in AQI levels, despite a slight improvement observed on Sunday. The 24-hour average AQI, recorded at 4 pm daily, displayed a progression from 301 on Sunday to 390 on Thursday. This concerning trend prompted attention as the Centre lifted stringent restrictions on construction work and the entry of polluting trucks on Saturday due to improved pollution levels resulting from favorable wind speed and direction.
Notably, the air quality crisis extends beyond Delhi, affecting neighboring regions like Ghaziabad (386), Gurugram (321), Greater Noida (345), Noida (344), and Faridabad (410), all experiencing “very poor” to “severe” air quality.
The Air Quality Index scale, ranging from good to severe-plus, emphasizes the severity of the situation. According to the air quality early warning system developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the pollution levels are expected to persist in the “very poor” to “severe” categories over the next five to six days.
Insights from a collaborative project between the Delhi government and the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, disclosed that vehicular emissions were responsible for approximately 38% of the capital’s air pollution on Thursday.
Furthermore, secondary inorganic aerosols, comprising particles like sulfate and nitrate formed through the interaction of gases and particulate pollutants from various sources, emerged as the second major contributor, accounting for 25 to 35% of Delhi’s recent air pollution.
A concerning aspect was the revelation that biomass burning, including post-harvest paddy straw burning in neighboring states, contributed significantly, representing 21% of the capital’s air pollution on the previous day.
As Delhi grapples with deteriorating air quality, addressing the multifaceted sources of pollution remains a critical challenge for authorities seeking sustainable solutions.
