New Delhi has continued to top the list of most polluted capitals in the world. This has been stated as per a study conducted by Swiss-Group IQAir.
Key Points
- The study measured air quality levels based on the concentration of lung-damaging airborne particles known as PM2.5.
- The study is based on the annual average of this particulate matter as well as airborne particles with less than 2.5 microns in diameter.
- A climate campaigner with Greenpeace India Avinash Chanchal said that while the lockdown brought up about temporary improvements in air quality, the health impact of burning fossil fuels continued to be severe.
- But the situation continues to remain dire in the state capital.
- According to a report, around 54,000 deaths are estimated to have occurred due to hazardous PM2.5 airborne particles in February.
- These PM2.5 particulates are termed as the most harmful to health.
- These particulates inflict damage on the heart and lungs, as well as increase the chances of severe asthma attacks.
- As per this study, last year Delhi’s average annual concentration of PM2.5 in a cubic meter of air was 84.1, which was more than double the level of Beijing, which averaged 37.5 during the year.
- As per a new analysis by the environment think tank Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), the seasonal average of winter pollution in Delhi-NCR in 2020-2021 was higher than in the previous year but the severity and duration of smog episodes were lower. It was revealed on March 3.
Ghaziabad was the most polluted among the four neighboring towns of Delhi and in the national capital city. North Delhi was also found as the most polluted with Jahangirpuri as the dirtiest hotspot.
