Page 3 - Air Pollution

Doctors warn of rising health and financial risks as air quality worsens

Study of doctors flags growing concern over worsening air quality in Indian cities, linking high AQI levels to chronic illnesses, rising healthcare costs and poor financial preparedness among patients

SC asks Centre, Delhi govt to submit action plan on CAQM's AQI measures

The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the Centre, the Delhi government and other stakeholders to submit within four weeks their action plan on the central pollution watchdog's recommendations for long-term measures to improve the worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi-NCR. A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi took note of a status report filed by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). "The CAQM has recommended 15 long-term measures. CAQM has also identified the concerned agencies who are the competent ones to give effect to these long-term measures." "While in addition to the aforesaid measures by the CAQM, there might be some additional long-term measures required to be adopted. There can be no doubt that these long-term measures recommended by CAQM are required to be given effect with no delay. We therefore call upon the ...

Grap IV lifted in Delhi-NCR as air quality shows marginal improvement

CAQM revoked Stage IV actions under the revised GRAP after Delhi's AQI improved to 378. It said Stages I, II and III curbs will continue across the NCR

Delhi sees worst January air quality in 5 years; Grap stage IV curbs on

Despite a slight improvement on Tuesday, Delhi is witnessing its worst January air quality in five years, with Grap Stage IV restrictions continuing amid unfavourable weather and dense fog

Severe air pollution hits Delhi as AQI nears 500, Grap IV reimposed

Delhi's air quality deteriorated to severe levels with AQI nearing 500. Stage-IV Grap curbs reinstated as residents are urged to limit outdoor exposure amid dense fog and winter chill

Delhi reimposes Grap IV restrictions as air quality plunges to 'severe'

Dense fog covered large parts of the national capital on Saturday morning, sharply reducing visibility and causing delays to several flights at Indira Gandhi International Airport

Air pollution raises risk of eye infection, other ocular problems: Doctors

Air pollution is considered a reason for respiratory and cardiac problems. However, experts warn that it also increases the risk of eye infection and aggravates existing issues among those with ocular problems. Doctors hold fine particulates -- PM2.5 -- the main culprit for eye problems such as allergic conjunctivitis, scratches on the surface of the eyes, dryness, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to light. "Every winter, my clinic sees a rise in the number of people complaining of red, itchy, watery, and burning eyes. The main reason is high air pollution, especially fine particles known as PM2.5," said Dr Ajay Sharma, co-founder of Eye Q Eye Hospital. PM2.5 includes tiny particulates from vehicle smoke, dust, burning waste, and firecrackers, he said, adding that these particles are so small that they easily enter the eyes and settle on the cornea, the clear front layer of the eye. Solid particles irritate and scratch the eye's surface, while liquid particles carry chemic

Grap 3 curbs enforced in Delhi-NCR as AQI may turn 'severe' in coming days

The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas or CAQM on Friday invoked GRAP curbs after the air quality showed an increasing trend, according to officials. The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi, which was 343 at 4 PM on Thursday, rose to 354 at 4 PM on Friday, the officials said. "Further, forecasts for weather ad meteorological conditions by the IMD/IITM indicate that due to slow wind speed, stable atmosphere, unfavourable weather parameters and meteorological conditions and lack of dispersal of pollutants, Delhi's average AQI is likely to breach the 400-mark and enter the severe' category in the coming days," a senior official said. "Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, AQI forecasts and to prevent further deterioration, the CAQM sub-committee on GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) today took the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-III of extant GRAP with immediate effect in the entire NCR as a proactive measure," the official

Delhi AQI remains 'very poor' as city sees season's lowest temperature

Delhi's air quality stayed above 350 amid the cold wave, raising health concerns as dense fog disrupted travel and temperatures remained well below normal

Delhi air quality stays 'very poor' amid cold wave and persistent fog

Unfavourable winter conditions and weak winds prevented dispersion of pollutants, keeping Delhi's air quality in the 'very poor' category

Air quality 'nationwide crisis', govt response ineffective: Congress

The Congress on Sunday cited a report to claim that air quality is a nation-wide, structural crisis for which the government response is "exceedingly ineffective and inadequate", as it demanded a thorough reform of the National Clear Air Programme. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said the NCAP propagated as the National Clear Air Programme is actually another type of NCAP - "Notional Clear Air Programme". The former environment minister said a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) has now confirmed what was always India's "worst-kept secret that the air quality is a nation-wide, structural crisis for which the government response is exceedingly ineffective and inadequate". Using satellite data, the study found that nearly 44 per cent of Indian cities that is 1,787 out of 4,041 statutory towns assessed have chronic air pollution, with annual PM2.5 levels consistently exceeding the national standard over five years ...

Delhi air remains 'very poor' as rain fails to bring respite; AQI at 363

Fog and cold grip the capital as overall AQI stays in the very poor range at 363 early on Saturday, with multiple hotspots recording dangerous pollution levels despite recent rain

Air as an electoral issue: Cricket pullouts may push action in North India

Foreign cricket teams refusing to play in North India could spur government to act

Delhi air quality remains 'very poor' despite early morning rain across NCR

Delhi's overall AQI climbed to 325 at 8 am, with Anand Vihar and Nehru Nagar among the worst-polluted sites; 27 of 39 stations record air quality in the 'very poor' category

'CAQM failing in duty': SC slams pollution watchdog, seeks report on causes

The Supreme Court directed CAQM to convene a meeting of experts in two weeks and submit a report on major causes of the worsening pollution in the national capital

Delhi AQI slips back to 'poor' as dense fog disrupts flights and travel

Delhi-NCR records 'poor' air quality as AQI rises to 292, with dense fog affecting visibility and causing flight delays, travel disruptions

Jitendra Singh inaugurates lab to certify air pollution monitoring tools

Union Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh on Monday inaugurated a laboratory to test and calibrate equipment to monitor air pollution, one of the very few such facilities in the world. Singh inaugurated the National Environmental Standard Laboratory at the CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (NPL) premises here, and described it as a critical step towards strengthening India's environmental governance framework. Singh said the facility will reduce India's dependence on foreign certification agencies, save foreign exchange, shorten turnaround time for calibration, and enhance investor confidence in the country's rapidly expanding solar sector. The minister also inaugurated the National Primary Standard Facility for Solar Cell Calibration (Solar Energy Complex), terming it a "future-ready facility" that places India among a select group of global leaders in photovoltaic measurement standards. Addressing the 80th Foundation Day celebrations of Centre for Scientific and ...

Delhi air quality improves slightly, AQI returns to 'poor' category

Delhi saw a marginal respite in air quality on Monday as the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) improved to 244, in the poor' category, after lingering in the very poor' range a day earlier. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board's Sameer app showed that four stations recorded very poor' air quality, with Chandni Chowk logging the worst AQI at 321, while 25 stations remained in the poor' category and nine recorded moderate' air quality. According to the CPCB classification, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered good', 51 to 100 satisfactory', 101 to 200 moderate', 201 to 300 poor', 301 to 400 very poor' and 401 to 500 severe'. The Decision Support System indicated that Delhi's pollution load was led by transport at 13.7 per cent, followed by peripheral industries at 11.4 per cent, residential sources at 3.3 per cent, construction at 1.2 per cent and waste burning at one per cent. Among NCR districts, Jhajjar contributed the highest at 19.6 per cent, followed by Sonip

Delhi's toxic winter air may be carrying drug-resistant superbugs: Study

Researchers at JNU warn that Delhi's winter smog could be harbouring drug-resistant bacteria, compounding health risks already posed by some of the world's worst air pollution

AAP holds protest in Delhi Assembly premises over rising air pollution

The protest highlighted concerns over public health, particularly for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory issues, as Delhi continues to struggle with hazardous air quality