Majority of Indian Cities Found Breathing Toxic Air, New Study Warns

The air quality in cities of India has been reported and this has shown that up to 60 percent of 749 districts in India have a higher concentration of particulate matter 2.5 exceeding the safety regulations.

Also Read: Arunachal Woman Recounts 18-Hour Ordeal at Shanghai Airport: ‘No Food, No Google Access’

Pollution soars in India

According to the research, Beyond city limits: A satellite-based PM2.5 evaluation across India airsheds, states and districts, the threshold of 40 µg/m 3, provided by the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) is exceeded in all these districts.

The article was issued by the Centre of Research on Energy and Clean Air and it was written by Manoj Kumar, Monish Raj, Panda Rushwood and Rosa Gierens. It indicated that the NAAQS limit was surpassed in all the states except monsoon, in all the districts, with the exception of Meghalaya and Chandigarh.

Indeed, 33 states and union territories out of 33 states in India had observed a concentration of PM2.5 that exceeded the 5-µg/m 3 limit as specified by the WHO. Nevertheless, of these, there were 28 that violated the boundaries of NAAQS, which is eight times greater than those of WHO.

The most polluted cities in India are concentrated in Delhi, Assam, Haryana and Bihar. Individually, Delhi is the worst polluted with a PM2.5 level of 101 µg/m 3.

The worst part of the country in terms of pollution is the Indo-Gangetic airshed region, but even Northeastern states, such as Tripura and Assam, are becoming more polluted.

Also Read: Cabinet Clears ₹7,280 Crore Scheme to Boost Rare Earth Magnet Manufacturing in India

Delhi has a problem of air pollution

Delhi has not been fortunate this winter because smog and heavy air pollution have been posing a major challenge to the city. At this point, there is another variable that could contribute to the further deterioration of the air quality.

A volcano in northern Ethiopia has also emitted a cloud of smoke, and this has reached Delhi, and this could contribute to the low quality of the air.

The Hayli Gubbi volcano has erupted in a thousand years, and this has resulted in an outgassing of ash, sulphur dioxide and fine rock particles that are being deposited on the north of India.

IMD director general M Mohapatra addressed the Hindustan Times on the effects of the volcanic smoke and said that it is still not clear whether it will affect air quality, but any notable effect will hardly occur, since it is at higher altitudes.

Excessive PM and high index of AQI are already being recorded in the city of Delhi. This plume of smoke may not make a permanent impression but it will leave a city that is already gagging at the air gasping even more.

Also Read: Imran Khan’s Sisters Demand Probe After Alleged Police Assault Outside Adiala Jail