Delhi: Deterioration in air quality in NCR; children suffering from respiratory problems

The AQI in Noida stood at 406 (severe category), 346 in Gurugram and 350 near Delhi airport respectively.

One AQI Above 400 is considered “severe” and can affect healthy people and severely affect people with existing diseases.

An expert says poor air quality in the national capital and NCR region is affecting children badly and eight out of ten children in the hospital are suffering from respiratory problems.

According to Dr Anamika Dubey, Senior Consultant Pediatrics, Rainbow Children’s Hospital, “Many children come to OPD in this season, I think 8 out of 10 patients are coming with complaints of cold, cough and shortness of breath, cough more Increases nights and distress. Also, young children are not able to express themselves, they are not able to say that they are having problems but it is giving them a lot of problems.”

Yesterday, Delhi’s AQI stood at 424 – the worst since December 26 last year, when it was 459.

according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), concentrations of the lung-damaging fine particulates known as PM2.5 exceeded 450 micrograms per cubic meter, nearly eight times the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic meter in many areas.

PM 2.5 levels from 61 to 120 are considered “moderate to poor”, 121 to 250 “very poor”, 251 to 350 “severe” and over 350 “severe plus”.

According to an analysis by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), people in the capital breathe the worst air between November 1 and November 15, when stubble burning is at its peak.

The city recorded an average PM2.5 of 285 micrograms per cubic meter from November 1 to November 15.

Mahesh Palawat, vice-president (meteorology and climate change), Skymet Weather, said low wind speeds and low night temperatures are allowing accumulation of pollutants.

However, the transport level wind direction and speed are favorable for transporting the fumes from stubble burning.

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) reported 1,842 farm fires in Punjab on Tuesday and 2,131 on Monday – the highest so far this season.

The agrarian state has recorded a total of 17,846 farm fires since September 15, when stubble burning usually begins. Out of this, 102,229 were recorded in the last eight days.

With pollution levels deteriorating, the Centre’s air quality panel on Saturday asked officials to ban construction and demolition activities in Delhi-NCR, except for essential projects, and other restrictions under phase three of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). instructed to implement.