Foreign delegates wear mask to protect them from air pollution

With Delhi and NCR area air quality plunging due to high level of air pollution, foreign delegates at a global health conference on tobacco control at Greater Noida today were seen wearing masks.
Participants and delegates arriving at the 7th Session of the Conference of Parties (COP7) to World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which kicked off at Greater Noida today were seen wearing protective masks or protecting their nose with a cloth.
Giovanni Castillo, Ambassador of Guatemala said that given the present situation, he had to get a protective mask from the embassy while coming to the conference venue.

"I came from the Caribbean where the air is clean and fresh. Given the kind of pollution in the national capital, I am wearing the protective mask," Castillo said.
Another delegate from Syria, who refused to be identified, was also seen coming out of the bus with her mouth and nose covered with a cloth.
She said that she was informed about the bad quality of air which is why she used the cloth to protect her mouth and nose as a precautionary measure.

Many other delegates were seen wearing protective masks while arriving at the venue.
Green body Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) had recently said that according to the India Meteorological Department, this is the worst smog with very poor visibility in 17 years.

In Delhi, there has been no respite from the choking haze of pollution since Diwali.
Analysis of air pollution data from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee shows that on Diwali day (October 30) the air was already saturated - the 24-hour average level of PM2.5 was 347 microgramme per cubic metre (cu m) and was at 'severe' level which is the worst category according to the air quality index.
This further increased significantly post-Diwali when on November 2 the 24-hour average levels shot up to 577 microgramme per cu m. Yesterday - almost a week later -- it was far worse at 639 microgramme per cu m.

The peak levels were even more horrendous and not breathable. On November 5, the four hour averages (12 noon - 4 pm) of peak levels were as high as 732 microgramme per cu m in Punjabi Bagh, 762 microgramme per cu m in Mandir Marg and 566 microgramme per cu m in R K Puram, CSE had said.