Do you know what it is to smoke 50 cigarettes in one day? Is breathing in New Delhi
People cross a street in New Delhi, India, 07.11.2017.
Air pollution has reached dire levels this week in New Delhi, the capital of India. Several parts of the city of 20 million people were "swallowed" by a thick layer of smoke and mist resulting from the combination of emissions from transportation, industrial pollution and soot from burning crops in nearby agricultural areas. The situation is exacerbated by the colder weather this time of year.
The Air Quality Index reached an average of 460 micrograms of ultrafine particles (PM2.5) per cubic meter on a scale where the maximum level is 500. Above 300 means that air quality is "very unhealthy" with potential effects on the population, especially sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and people with respiratory disorders.
PM2.5 are the smallest and most damaging pollution particles. Imperceptible to the naked eye, they do not find physical barriers: they affect the lung and can cause asthma, bronchitis, allergies and other serious cardiorespiratory diseases.
People exercise in a park in New Delhi on a polluted morning
In the current situation, on average, air pollution exceeds by more than 40 times the level considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO) of 10 micrograms per cubic meter. In some parts of the city, PM2.5 levels have risen to more than 700 micrograms per cubic meter.
According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), breathing in New Delhi's toxic air is comparable to smoking at least 50 cigarettes in a single day. The entity declared a state of emergency and recommended that people avoid exposing themselves to open air.
To protect themselves, people take to the streets with their noses and mouths covered.
The government suspended classes at more than 4,000 schools for nearly a week, halted construction activities and banned trucks from entering the city.
But any lasting solution to address the numerous sources of pollution will require joint efforts of state and municipal governments for policy reform and oversight.
New Delhi is already one of the most polluted cities in the world due to emissions from diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and industrial activities. It is ranked 11th in the WHO global air pollution ranking, which is led by the city of Zabol in Iran.
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