In comparison to other metro cities of India, the air quality index – Air Quality Index (AQI) – in Delhi has taken a worse shape. Delhiites have now woken up to a thick blanket of smog that’s covering the entire city. The burning of crop in the neighboring states of Haryana and Punjab are considered to be the cause of the bad AQI.
It is calculated that an Air Quality Index (AQI) between 0 and 50 is considered to be good whereas 51 and 100 is considered to be satisfactory, 101 and 200 is called moderate, at the same time 201 and 300 ‘poor’, between301 and 400 is ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 completely ‘severe’.
According to Central Pollution Control Board data: It has also been reported that Air Quality Index (AQI) in Anand Vihar, Mundka, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Wazirpur and Vivek Vihar, was 327, 309, 302 and 300, 323 and 317 respectively,
Also, observed by the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) issued basically a health advisory, asking people to reduce heavy exertion to a greater level so that they should not get ill.. “People with heart or other kind of diseases and children should avoid longer and heavy exertion. Everyone may experience health effects and ultimately it may result to significant increase in respiratory problems.
Air Quality Index (AQI) in Metro Cities
According to PTI it is reported that in Haryana there has been a slight decrease in the number of stubble burning incidents, at the same time Punjab has also reported a massive increase of 45 percent in such cases till October 11, according to the data published by the pollution control boards of the two states. Despite a ban on stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, farmers continue to defy it amid a lack of financial incentives.
Starting from 15th October it has been seen that strict measures to fight against the air pollution will come into force in Delhi and its neighborhoods as part of the Graded Response Action Plan. Initially it was first implemented in Delhi-NCR in 2017. These measures will include increasing bus and metro services and other public transports, hiking parking fees and stopping use of diesel generator sets when the air quality turns “poor”.
Other metropolitan cities of Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai, as compared to Delhi, have had much better air quality.e credit: AQI
The air quality stations are in the areas of Mumbai city like Borivali, Bandra, Colaba, Airoli, Nerul, Sion and the AQI are 103, 72, 111, 92, 74, 87, 125 respectively.
The areas in Kolkata city that have air quality stations are Jadavpur, Ballygunge, Rabindra Sarobar, Siliguri, Victoria and the AQI are 150, 173, 89, 22 and 137 respectively. The areas in Chennai city that have air quality stations are Alandur bus depot has 45 AQI and Velachery has an AQI of 35.
Side-effect of Air Pollutions
Even healthy people can experience health related issues from polluted air including respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities. Basically we have to understand that the actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the major pollutant type and concentration, and the total length of your exposure to the polluted air.
High level of air pollution levels can cause immediate health problems including:
- Aggravated cardiovascular and respiratory illness-
- Added stress to heart and lungs generally is seen to work harder to supply the body with oxygen-
- Damaged body cells in the respiratory system of the body-
At the same time long-term exposure to polluted air can have permanent health effects such as:
- Accelerated aging of the lungs-
- Loss of lung capacity and at the same time decreased lung function-
- Development of various diseases such as asthma, bronchitis, etc-
- Shortened life span-
Those who are the most susceptible to severe health problems from air pollution are:
- Individuals with various heart disease, coronary artery disease or congestive heart failure system-
- Individuals with lung diseases such as asthma, emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-
- Pregnant women-
- Outdoor workers-
- Older adults and the elderly-
- Children under age 14-
- Athletes who exercise vigorously outdoors-
Majorly we have seen that people in these groups may experience some major health impacts at lower air pollution exposure levels, or their health effects may be of extremely greater intensity.
Health Effects from Specific Pollutants
Ground-level Ozone
Also to be understood that Ground-level ozone is formed when volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) react with the sun’s ultraviolet rays. The primary contributors of VOCs and NOx are mobile sources, including cars, trucks, buses, construction equipment and agricultural equipment.
Ground-level ozone reaches its peak level during the afternoon and early evening hours. High levels occur mostly during the summer months. It is a strong irritant that can cause constriction of the airways, forcing the respiratory system to work harder in order to provide oxygen.
It can also cause some other health problems that includes:
- Aggravated respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma that affects badly –
- Lung damag even after major symptoms such as coughing or a sore throat may disappear completely-
- Reduced resistance to infections-
- Increased fatigue-
- Weakened athletic performance-
Particulate Matter (PM) and Wildfire Smoke
Particulate Matter is basically a complex mixture that may contain soot, smoke, etc. It can actually be directly emitted, as in smoke from a fire, or it can form in the atmosphere from reactions of major gases such as nitrogen oxides.
We should understand that the size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Small particles -known as PM2.5 or fine particulate matter-pose the greatest problems because they bypass the body’s natural defense system and at the same time can get deep into your lungs and potentially your bloodstream. Here exposure to such particles can basically affect both your lungs and your heart.
Long-term exposure to particulate pollution can result in significant health problems including:
- Increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing-
- Decreased lung function-
- Aggravated asthma-
- Development of chronic respiratory disease in children-
Air Quality Index Images on India Content
If you are looking for Air Quality Index pics then you must check the India Content website. You will find some good images on the website. The pictures are available in three sizes—small, medium and large.
You can purchase various other content images from the https://www.indiacontent.in
