Page 2 - Air Pollution

Air pollution rises to alarming level in Guwahati, several flights diverted

Air pollution in Guwahati has increased to an alarming level, forcing many city-bound flights to be diverted due to low visibility arising from a thick cloud of dust

Delhi's minimum temperature at 9 deg C, air quality poor with AQI at 233

The national capital on Saturday recorded a minimum temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, a notch above season's average, the India Meteorological Department said. The weatherman has predicted strong surface winds during day time while the maximum temperature is likely to settle around 25 degree Celsius. The relative humidity at 8:30 am was 81 per cent. The air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 233 at 9 am, which is in the poor category. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe.

No 'good' days for Delhi air in Jan as winter makes pollution worse

Average monthly AQI at 'very poor' category, city eases graded action plan

India vows to remain committed to net zero, yet defends use of fossil fuels

While the Survey documented India's position with respect to carbon emissions, it was silent on a domestic problem caused in part by coal burning: air pollution

Delhi's air quality shows improvement, recorded in 'moderate' category

Delhi recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 197

Even brief exposure to air pollution may impair brain function: Study

Just two hours of exposure to air pollution may impair human brain function, according to a study. The researchers found that exposure to diesel exhaust for just two hours causes a decrease in the brain's functional connectivity - a measure of how different areas of the brain interact and communicate with each other. The study, published in the journal Environmental Health, provides the first evidence in humans, from a controlled experiment, of altered brain network connectivity induced by air pollution. "For many decades, scientists thought the brain may be protected from the harmful effects of air pollution, said senior study author Chris Carlsten, a professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada. "This study, which is the first of its kind in the world, provides fresh evidence supporting a connection between air pollution and cognition, Carlsten said. The researchers briefly exposed 25 healthy adults to diesel exhaust and filtered air at different times in a ..

Air quality enters 'very poor' category in Delhi, overall AQI at 316

According to the forecast from SAFAR, the air quality of the city will deteriorate further on Thursday

Clean-up act: Why Delhi has consistently failed to make its air breathable

Experts say a China-like approach is needed with neighbouring states working alongside it

Anti-pollution curbs under GRAP stage 3 lifted in Delhi as AQI improves

Restrictions imposed under Graded Response Action Plan's (GRAP) Stage III have been withdrawn from Delhi-NCR after marginal improvement in the city's air quality, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said on Sunday. Curbs under Stage III included a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). However, restrictions that were imposed under Stage-I and Stage-II of GRAP will continue. The decision was taken after the sub committee of GRAP noted that the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi marginally improved from the level of 353 (very poor) on January 14 to 213 (poor) on January 15. Based on the decision of the Sub-committee on GRAP, actions upto Stage-III were invoked on January 6 in the NCR, pursuant to prediction of a significant deterioration in the average air quality of Delhi. The Sub-committee in its meeting held on January 15 reviewed the air quality scenario in the region and ...

Beyond Joshimath: How not to make the future a repeat of the past

Can we have stronger regulatory and associated institutions to ensure environmental protection? If not, the shock effect of Joshimath won't last much more than a week, cautions T N Ninan

Explainer: What does an AQI of 450 mean? Is it just a winter thing?

At 450, the concentration of pollutants in the air "affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases"

Industry body seeks lifting curbs for nonpolluting work in construction

An industry delegation has requested Centre to consider exempting nonpolluting construction activities from ban

Cities choking still as India's clean air plan spends Rs 6897 cr in 4 yrs

Srinagar and Kohima among cleanest in country; Delhi most polluted city in 2022

Delhi's air quality remains in 'severe' category for second consecutive day

Delhi's air quality remained severe for a second consecutive day on Tuesday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions though pollution levels are likely to ameliorate in the coming days, forecasting agencies said. The city's air quality index had deteriorated to the "severe" category on Monday after a gap of around two months, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to direct all NCR states to implement anti-pollution curbs with greater vigour. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 407 at 4 pm on Tuesday. It was 434 on Monday and 371 on Sunday. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". The Delhi government on Monday imposed a temporary ban on plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in the national capital in view of the worsening air quality. The CAQM had on Friday implemented curbs under stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan including a ban on private constructi

Delhi AQI 'severe', CAQM asks NCR to implement anti-pollution curbs

As Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the "severe" category on Monday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directed all NCR states to implement anti-pollution curbs with greater vigour. Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 434 at 4 pm on Monday, worsening from 371 on Sunday. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe". An official of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said low temperatures, calm winds and high moisture content led to trapping of pollutants. Considering the sudden spike in air pollution, the CAQM held an urgent review meeting with officials from Delhi and NCR states, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, and directed them to implement the provisions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the field with "greater vigour to prevent further deterioration of air quality". The commission also stressed on the need to

Repeated implementation of GRAP III curbs delaying projects: CTI to CAQM

The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) has written to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), saying repeated implementation of curbs under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan has delayed projects and affected labourers. The Centre's air quality panel had invoked restrictions under Stage III of GRAP including a ban on private construction and demolition work on December 30 in view of a spike in air pollution. The commission revoked the curbs on Wednesday but reimposed them on Friday due to frequently changing air quality scenario. On Sunday, the CTI wrote to the panel that traders associated with under-construction projects are very upset due to repeated implementation of curbs under Stage III of GRAP and the work is getting delayed. Besides, the livelihood of the labourers has also been affected, CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal and president Subhash Khandelwal said. They urged the CAQM to give relaxations to private construction works under Stage III of GRAP.

Real estate developers urge relaxation of norms under stage III of GRAP

Real estate developers have urged for some relaxation in the provisions of stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) which was reimposed on Saturday in Delhi-NCR due to severe air pollution

Air pollutants linked with asthma attacks in children, adolescents: Study

Moderate levels of two outdoor air pollutants, ozone and fine particulate matter, are associated with non-viral asthma attacks in children and adolescents who live in low-income urban areas, a study conducted in the US has found. The study also identifies associations between exposure to the two pollutants and molecular changes in the children's airways during non-viral asthma attacks, suggesting potential mechanisms for those attacks. The observational study, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), US, is one of the first to link elevated levels of specific outdoor air pollutants in particular urban locations to distinct changes in the airways during asthma attacks not triggered by respiratory viruses, according to the investigators. The findings are published in the journal The Lancet Planetary Health. "The strong association this study demonstrates between specific air pollutants among children in impoverished urban communities and non-viral asthma attacks further ...

12 with respiratory issues die in 2 days as air quality worsens in Dhanbad

At least 12 people with respiratory issues who were undergoing treatment have died in the last 48 hours here, as the air quality declined to "alarming" levels, officials said on Wednesday

Toxic levels rise in Delhi air, experts warn of respiratory issues

As the toxicity levels in Delhi's air quality is increasing, health experts have warned of respiratory illnesses, especially among people with heart and lung diseases