Delhi’s Air Pollution Reaches Hazardous Levels, Expert Warns of Public Health Emergency

Air pollution in Delhi has escalated to dangerous concentrations again, prompting a leading expert to caution that India’s contaminated air will pose a greater threat to public health than the Covid-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, the air quality registered 35 times above the World Health Organization (WHO)’s safe threshold, leading inhabitants to report respiratory difficulties, alongside irritation in their eyes and throat. Officials have advised individuals, particularly children and the elderly, to remain indoors as much as feasible, and medical professionals suggest wearing a mask. However, Frank Hammes, the global chief executive of the air technology firm IQAir, cautions that these are merely temporary solutions, and more extensive actions are required. “Alarming air pollution levels are a public health pandemic,” he stated to the BBC, detailing how hazardous air affects various aspects, from mortality rates to IQ levels. “This is going to have a much bigger impact on public health than Covid-19.” Annually during winter, Delhi and its neighboring regions experience elevated pollution levels, attributed to diminished wind speeds, vehicle exhaust, and the combustion of agricultural residue and firewood. Data from IQAir, a Swiss air quality index, indicated that pollution in certain areas of Delhi exceeded the 550 mark on Wednesday morning, significantly surpassing the “hazardous” threshold of 300. In contrast, London recorded a level of 26 early on Wednesday. The Air Quality Index (AQI) quantifies the concentration of minute airborne particles, specifically PM 2.5 – which Mr. Hammes describes as “the most dangerous pollutant” and the “only determinant” for assessing pollution levels. He added, “It causes breathing difficulties, asthma attacks, heart and lung issues that send people rushing to emergencies.” The Delhi government reinstated stringent pollution control regulations on Tuesday, less than two weeks after the nation’s highest court permitted their relaxation. These restrictions, categorized under stage four of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap), mandate that most schools transition to a hybrid learning model, prohibit all construction and demolition work, and forbid the entry of lorries and heavy vehicles, with the exception of those transporting essential commodities. Manish Adhikari, a local resident, informed news agency ANI that enduring winter in Delhi has become challenging due to the continuously increasing pollution. Another resident, Bhagat Singh, similarly voiced his exasperation, stating, “Pollution has become an incurable disease, especially for Delhi. There is no solution to it.”