According to data recorded by a hand of Earth and Sciences Ministry, December 23, 2015 was the most polluted day of 2015.
An institution called System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) has recorded highest levels of suspended particulate matters (PM) 2.5 and PM 10 putting the air quality into ‘sever’ category.
Experts are largely attributing this spike in pollution to burning of dry leaves to fight cold in the region. According to SAFAR, similar level of pollutants were last observed post-Diwali, and they’ve even monitored the levels steadily falling recently.
The severe category air quality affects healthy persons and seriously impacts those with existing diseases. The ‘severe’ air quality is declared when PM 2.5 and PM 10 cross 253 and 421 microgram per cubic metres respectively.
Medium range transport of pollutants from Indo-Gangetic Plains (rich in pollution) is highest at this time that brings pollution-rich air, which after reaching Delhi, gets downward and pollute Delhi surface. The IGP regions (Kanpur, Varanasi, Lucknow, Patna, etc.) has shown a huge increase in particulate matters,Dr Gufran Beig, Chief Project Scientist, SAFAR
Things are set to remain the same. According to SAFAR’s forecast, there is no respite in sight as PM 2.5 is expected to remain in the same category over the next few days with a possible marginal fall on December 25 to 248 micrograms per cubic metre.
The kind of jump seen between December 21 and 23 is unusual and meteorology cannot explain this jump.Dr Gufran Beig, Chief Project Scientist, SAFAR
World Health Organisation (WHO) considers 25 to be the maximum safe level for PM 2.5 and as the best indicator of the level of health risks from air pollution.
Real time readings of Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) stations in Anand Vihar, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh and RK Puram put PM 2.5 readings at 408, 336, 389 and 366 around 7.30 pm.
CPCB website, functional after almost two weeks, also displayed the ‘severe’ warning across its stations.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)