Delhi’s Air Pollution 26 Times Above Safe Levels, Toxic Air Across North India 

As the Delhi government announced emergency measures to tackle its toxic air, it was evident that the air across large swathes of north India was unsafe, as a satellite image from the U.S. space agency revealed.

Munirka in south-west Delhi reported the worst particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentration at 968.28 μg/m³ at 9 a.m. on Nov. 7, according to an analysis of hourly averages for 48 hours, based on data from the IndiaSpend #Breathe air-quality sensor. The 24-hour average for Munirka (655.78 μg/m3) on Nov. 7, was 26 times more than the World Health Organisation 24-hour average standard of 25 µg/m³. It was also nearly 11 times more than the national ambient air quality 24-hour average standard of 60 µg/m³.

Pollution at four of eight locations in seven north Indian cities, analysed using IndiaSpend #Breathe air-quality sensors, showed “severe” (>250 µg/m³, or 10 times above safe limits) levels, based on the 24-hour average of PM 2.5, on Nov. 7, 2017. Of the remaining four, three indicated “poor” (ranging between 91-150 µg/m³, nearly four to six times above safe levels) and one ‘moderate' (61-90 µg/m³, about twice to three times above safe levels).

The worst time for air quality in Delhi was 9 a.m. (measured on hourly average for 24 hours on Nov. 7), Chandigarh (7 p.m.), Gurugram (10 a.m.), Jaipur (1 a.m.), Dehradun (8 a.m.), Varanasi (9 p.m.), Hazratganj, Lucknow (8 p.m.) and Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow (10 a.m.).

The best time in Delhi was 4 p.m., Chandigarh (6 a.m.), Gurugram (3 p.m.), Jaipur (11 a.m.), Dehradun (3 p.m.), Varanasi (3 a.m.), Hazratganj, Lucknow (12 a.m.) and Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University, Lucknow (4 p.m.).

PM 2.5 are fine particulate matter found in the air with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less and are known to pose the greatest risk to human beings. Their measurement is considered to be the best indicator of the health risks from air pollution, according to the WHO.

Delhi Under Pollution Emergency, Air Quality Worsens

Most parts of north India, including Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and neighbouring states like Haryana and Punjab, are masked in a thick blanket of smog. Pollution levels in the region have crossed severity levels with the Delhi government issuing a health advisory to citizens.

The scale & geographical spread of the PM2.5 #IndiaAQ problem. Engulfing the entire Indo-Gangetic plain https://t.co/GTppVGiXes via @cambecc pic.twitter.com/MLOK2V0Mmf

While Dehli furiously debates GRAP, the problem extends much further. Emergency measures needed by govts. to protect those living on streets

With a health emergency declared in the national capital, schools are to remain closed till Sunday, construction activities have been halted, and the entry of trucks in the city are banned.

Air-quality levels in Delhi crossed “poor” eight times since Oct. 8, 2017, “very poor to severe” 21 times and “emergency” once as they have for 48 hours to Nov. 8, according to data from the government's own alert system, IndiaSpend reported on Nov. 9.

The hourly average for the last 48 hours, from 12p.m. on Nov. 6 to Nov. 8, from IndiaSpend #Breathe sensors indicates how air quality in Delhi — based on a sensor at Munirka in south Delhi–deteriorated from 269.57 μg/m³ at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 to 533.78 μg/m³ at 8 p.m., reaching its peak of 968.28μg/m3 by next morning on Nov. 7.

National Capital Region And Neighbouring Areas Too Affected

Chandigarh — north of Delhi and the capital of both Punjab and Haryana– reported the second worst air quality reading of PM 2.5 concentration at 606.19 μg/m³ on Nov. 7, at 7 p.m.

The 24-hour average for Chandigarh (299.15 μg/m³) on Nov. 7 was almost 12 times more than the WHO standard and nearly five times more than the national standard. The lowest PM2.5 level reported here was 142.02 μg/m³.

The 24 hour average for Civil Lines in Jaipur, almost 280 kilometer south-west of Delhi, on Nov. 7, was 126.76 μg/m³, five times more than the WHO standard. The worst PM 2.5 level was (173.26 μg/m³) at 10 p.m. on Nov. 6.

The worst PM 2.5 concentration in Dehradun, located on the foothills of the Himalayas and approximately 250 kilometers from Delhi, was 168.6 μg/m³ on Nov. 7 at 8 a.m. The 24-hour average (105.63 μg/m³) was more than four times the WHO standard.

The worst air quality recorded at Fatehpur in Gurugram (formerly known as Gurgaon) district of Haryana was 481.34 μg/m³, at 10 a.m. on Nov. 7. The 24-hour average (273.28 μg/m³) reported was almost 11 times above the WHO standard.

The worst PM 2.5 level reported at Hazratganj–located in central Lucknow–was 451.03 μg/m³ on Nov. 8 at 11 a.m. The 24-hour average recorded (251.80 μg/m³) was 10 times more than the WHO standard and four times the national 24 hour average.

The sensor located near Lucknow's Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University reported 24-hour average of 130.23μg/m3 on Nov. 7 – five times more the WHO standard and more than double the national standard.

Varanasi, located on the banks of Ganges and south-east of Lucknow, reported the lowest 24-hour average (75.17 μg/m³) on Nov. 7 among all the eight sensors we considered. However, the hourly trends, indicate that the air quality in the city turned bad in the late evening of Nov. 7, increasing to its 48-hour peak of 166.3 μg/m³ at 9 p.m.

Why Delhi And Its Neighbouring States Suffocate Every Year

Farmers from the neighbouring states–Punjab and Haryana– burn post-harvest straw on their fields in October. With the onset of winter in November, the smoke, mixed with fog and industrial pollution, form a thick haze over these states.

Satellite images of active crop fires in Punjab and surrounding areas were released by National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the U.S. space agency, on Oct. 25, 2017.

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Stopping the practice of burning straw or stubble and other biomass could improve air quality in Delhi by 90 percent, according to a 2016 apportionment study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, IndiaSpend reported on Oct. 17.

“The immediate impacts of exposure to air pollution are primarily on the cardiovascular and respiratory systems,” Hem Dholakia, senior research associate at Council on Energy, Environment and Water, a New Delhi based non-profit, told IndiaSpend.

“New research shows that exposure to pollution can lead to premature deliveries as well as impact the neurological development in children. Some of the latest studies link air pollution with a higher risk of breast cancer.”

Dholakia said strong investments are needed for pollution monitoring. “In addition to measuring levels of pollution, networks are required to inform us of the sources of pollution in real-time,” he said. “The capacity across central and state pollution control boards needs to improved. We also require policy coordination across different sectors, civil society as well as investments in clean technology.”

(Mallapur is an analyst with IndiaSpend.)

This copy has been published in arrangement with IndiaSpend.

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