Delhi Air Pollution Updates: The air quality in Delhi-NCR has deteriorated over the past week due to a gradual drop in temperature, calm winds that trap pollution, and an increase in post-harvest paddy straw burning across Punjab and Haryana. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board, the Air Quality Index rose by over 200 points between October 27 and November 3. The senior lung specialist from Medanta, Arvind Kumar, said that the severe quality is equal to about 25–30 cigarettes in terms of damage to the body.
"...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 breathing, the toxins go to her lungs; through the lungs, they go into the blood; and through the placenta, they reach the child, and the fetus, and cause damage... When the child is born, they start breathing the same air. Our air quality is around 450–500, which is equal to about 25–30 cigarettes in terms of damage to the body,” Kumar said while speaking to news agency ANI.
He added, "...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 there is obesity and exposure to air pollution both present, the chances of asthma become many times higher, as was shown by us, the Lung Care Foundation”.
The national capital has been grappling with a sudden and alarming spike in air pollution levels, shortening the lives of its residents by 11.9 years, reports news agency IANS.
According to this year's air quality life index, compiled by the University of Chicago's energy policy institute, the residents of Delhi are on track to lose 11.9 years of life expectancy due to the detrimental air they breathe.
The alarming development signifies the beginning of the annual pollution season that has become a recurring catastrophe for the people residing in Delhi. Meanwhile, the authorities have taken several precautionary measures, including the closure of schools and a ban on non-essential construction activities in the city. The air quality index has soared to 500, which is the highest possible reading.
(With input from agencies)
