Is the air quality bad in Delhi, India?

As of Tuesday, November 19, 2024, air quality is hazardous in Delhi, India. The city is experiencing the worst air quality in the world.

Air quality levels recently reached as high as 1,185 on Monday, far beyond the hazardous threshold of over 300 on the air quality index, and 400, the threshold for hazardous air quality according to India’s Central Pollution Control Board (1). Air quality, in the city has been hazardous every day since November 12, and intermittently hazardous since October 31.

Such extreme pollution levels pose significant health risks, affecting everyone but especially children, the elderly, and those with respiratory or heart conditions. The city is enveloped in thick smog, reducing visibility and creating a public health crisis.

What is causing poor air quality in Delhi, India?

Delhi’s poor air quality typically stems from a mix of human activity and seasonal weather conditions:

• Vehicle emissions: The city's high population density results in heavy traffic and significant pollution from older and poorly maintained vehicles. Increased investment in mass transportation and stricter fuel efficiency enforcement could help mitigate these issues in future.
• Industrial and construction dust: Industrial operations and ongoing construction projects release fine particulate matter into the air.
• Home heating: Coal, firewood, and diesel generator use can contribute to poor air quality.
• Weather patterns: Chillier temperatures, low wind speeds, and heavy air trap pollutants close to the ground during colder months, worsening smog.
• Crop stubble burning: Farmers in neighboring states including Bihar, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh burn agricultural waste, contributing to particulate pollution (2).

Combined, these factors create a toxic atmosphere. Air quality is particularly dangerous during the winter months, when weather conditions exacerbate pollution.

Is air quality poor elsewhere in India?

Air quality is poor across India, but especially poor in Northern India.

Cities with unhealthy to hazardous air quality on Tuesday include:

• Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
• Gurugram, Haryana
• Hyderabad, Telangana
• Jaipur, Rajasthan
• Jodhpur, Rajasthan
• Kolkata, West Bengal
• Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Patna, Bihar

Are there any alerts in place?

Several emergency measures have been implemented to address the crisis (3):

• School closures: All in-person classes are suspended, with online learning in effect.
• Traffic restrictions: Delhi has banned entry of all non-essential trucks into the city.
• Work-from-home policies: Offices have been urged to reduce physical attendance to minimize traffic emissions.
• Construction halts: All non-essential construction activities are suspended.
• Use restrictions: Diesel generators and coal-based activities are prohibited for non-emergency purposes.

Residents are advised to stay indoors, limit outdoor activity, and use air purifiers where possible. Monitoring teams and strict enforcement of GRAP Stage IV measures are in place to mitigate the impact of the crisis.

How can I protect myself from poor air quality?

• Get a free air quality app for real-time air quality alerts and forecasts.
• Shut doors and windows and set the HVAC to recirculate mode.
• Contribute to your community’s outdoor air quality data.
• Stay indoors when air quality is poor; if you do need to go outdoors, wear a KN95/FFP2 mask.
• Run a high-performance air purifier to filter particles, gases, and other pollutants.