Delhi had no ‘good’ air day this year, none expected until December-end
Notably, this is the first year after 2018 when Delhi recorded no ‘good’ air days. There were no ‘good’ air days in 2016, too.
3 min read
With an AQI of 349, the Capital was the second most polluted city in the country on Monday. (Express)Delhi breathed its cleanest air this year in August when the average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 52. Yet, it fell short by two points required for a ‘good’ day, as per national standards.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a ‘good’ air day is when the AQI is below 50. Delhi has not had a single ‘good’ air quality day so far this year. With the current pollution levels and the air quality fluctuating between ‘severe’ and ‘very poor’ so far this month, it is unlikely the Capital will have a good day before next year.
On Monday, after a brief respite, Delhi’s AQI returned to the ‘very poor’ category from ‘poor’ by noon. With an AQI of 349, the city was the second most polluted, closely behind West Bengal’s Durgapur (AQI of 360).
Notably, this is the first year after 2018 when Delhi recorded no ‘good’ air days. There were no ‘good’ air days in 2016, too.
Since 2016, the lockdown year of 2020 saw the highest number of five ‘good’ air days — one in March and four in August. However, by 2021, this number had come down to one day in October but improved a tad to three ‘good’ days — one in September and two in October — in 2022. However, 2023 saw only a single clean-air day, in September.
Delhi reports the cleanest air during the monsoon season compared to the rest of the year, according to CPCB data. This explains the concentration of ‘good’ air days between August and October. Meteorological factors can lead to a lowering of pollution levels in pre-winter months.
According to the India Meteorological Department data, Delhi received no rain so far this month. In contrast, there were four rainy days in 2023. Further, since 2016, there have been instances of November rain in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
As per AQI trends over the past 10 years, the AQI at best has fallen to around 130, and not less in November and December. As a result, the year-end months record only ‘moderate’, ‘very poor’, ‘severe’ and ‘severe plus’ AQI days.
While a ‘good’ AQI has minimal health impacts, the index even in the ‘satisfactory’ range can lead to minor breathing discomforts.
A ‘moderate’ AQI would impact people with existing heart or lung diseases. When it plummets to the ‘poor’ range, most people would start experiencing symptoms of ‘prolonged exposure’. At ‘severe’ or ‘severe plus’ levels, pollution does not differentiate between healthy and unhealthy individuals.
You May Like
Photos
