New Delhi, India – A dense toxic smog blanketed New Delhi on Wednesday, with pollution levels surging to over 50 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit. Residents of the sprawling city of over 30 million grappled with choking air, as monitoring firm IQAir reported hazardous levels of PM2.5 pollutants topping 806 micrograms per cubic meter – microparticles that pose severe risks as they can enter the bloodstream through the lungs.
Many in the city cannot afford air filters or create sealed indoor spaces to protect themselves, and the smog has led to delayed flights, with visibility dropping below 500 meters in Delhi and even lower at 18 airports across northern India.
The hazardous air is attributed to a range of factors, including agricultural stubble burning in nearby states, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and toxic fumes from incineration plants managing the city’s massive landfill waste. A recent New York Times report underscored the severity, highlighting “alarming” levels of heavy metals found in samples from the region.
New Delhi suffers an annual spike in air pollution between October and January as cooler temperatures and low winds trap pollutants. Despite initiatives such as water-spraying trucks and a recently announced drone-based misting program, critics argue these measures are merely temporary solutions.
In October, India’s Supreme Court deemed clean air a fundamental right and called for immediate government action. However, the response has been slow, in part due to political disagreements between state and central authorities, as well as concerns over alienating influential farming communities.
The health impacts are dire, particularly for vulnerable groups like children and the elderly. The WHO warns that exposure to such high pollution levels can lead to strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and other respiratory issues. According to a 2019 Lancet study, air pollution contributed to 1.67 million premature deaths across India.
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