Page 47 - Air Pollution

PM10 rise to hazardous levels as strong winds raising dust sweep Delhi

The PM10 pollution in Delhi soared to hazardous levels on Tuesday as strong winds swept the city raising dust and leaving a thick blanket of haze over it. The India Meteorological Department said dust-laden winds with speed up to 50 kmph breezed through the capital between 3 am and 6 am, lowering visibility to a mere 700 metres at 10 am at the Palam Observatory, close to the Indira Gandhi International Airport, as compared to 4,000 metres at 9 am on Monday. By 3 pm on Tuesday, the overall air quality index had worsened to 260, from 162 at 4 pm on Monday. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee data showed PM10 levels soaring to 3,826 micrograms per cubic metre at Jahangirpuri and 2,565 micrograms per cubic metre at Sri Aurobindo Marg. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, PM10 levels up to 100 micrograms per cubic metre (for a 24-hour period) are considered safe. The DPCC data showed PM10 levels rose to 1,542 micrograms per cubic metre at Vivek Vihar; 1,296 micrograms p

Air pollution: Crucial meeting on source apportionment study held in Delhi

The Delhi government on Monday said it held a roundtable conference to discuss the findings of a real-time source apportionment study on air pollution and develop a strategy to further improve air quality in the city and the National Capital Region. The "Save Environment Roundtable Conference" took place at the Delhi Secretariat on Monday and was attended by representatives from Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, The Energy and Resources Institute, and NCR states. "We shared the data collected during the source apportionment study over the past six months with the participants, sought their suggestions and prepared a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR," Rai said. The ultimate goal is to devise policies at local and regional levels to enhance the air quality in Delhi, he said. Real-time source apportionm

Crucial conference on source apportionment study on air pollution in Delhi

The Delhi government will hold a roundtable conference on Monday to discuss the findings of a real-time source apportionment study on air pollution and develop a strategy to further improve air quality in Delhi-NCR, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said. The "Save Environment Roundtable Conference" will take place at the Delhi Secretariat, and will be attended by representatives from the Commission for Air Quality Management, Central Pollution Control Board, SAFAR, United Nations Environment Programme, India Meteorological Department, World Bank, Centre for Science and Environment, TERI, and NCR (National Capital Region) states. "We will share the report of the source apportionment study with the participants, seek their suggestions, and prepare a strategy to further reduce air pollution in Delhi-NCR," Rai said. Real-time source apportionment studies help identify factors responsible for an increase in air pollution at any spot, such as vehicles, dust, biomass burning, and emissions .

Delhi govt to launch campaign to curb dust pollution next week: Gopal Rai

The Delhi government will launch a campaign next week to curb dust pollution, one of the major reasons behind air pollution in the national capital in the summer season, Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Thursday. He said officials have been asked to inspect construction sites and take action against those violating anti-dust pollution norms. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Monday launched an action plan to combat air pollution during the summer months with a focus on controlling dust pollution. The Delhi government already has an action plan to combat air pollution in the winter months. The winter plan focuses on stubble burning, firecracker pollution, and industrial and vehicular emissions. The summer plan involves the participation of 30 government departments. The government has procured 84 mechanical road sweeping machines, 609 water sprinklers and 185 mobile anti-smog guns to suppress dust. Additionally, 70 integrated road sweeping machines and 250 integrated wat

Air pollution exposure linked to higher risk of irregular heartbeat: Study

Long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with an increased risk of arrythmia or irregular heartbeat, according to a large study of 322 Chinese cities. The common arrhythmia conditions atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, which can progress to more serious heart disease, affect an estimated 59.7 million people globally, the researchers said. Air pollution is a modifiable risk factor for heart disease, but the evidence linking it with arrythmia has been inconsistent, they said. The researchers evaluated hourly exposure to air pollution and the sudden onset of symptoms of arrythmia using data from 2025 hospitals in 322 Chinese cities. "We found that acute exposure to ambient air pollution was associated with increased risk of symptomatic arrhythmia," said Renjie Chen, from Fudan University, Shanghai, China. "The risks occurred during the first several hours after exposure and could persist for 24 hours. The exposureresponse relationships between six pollutants and four ..

Delhi government launches summer action plan to combat air pollution

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched an action plan to combat air pollution during the summer months with a focus on controlling dust pollution. The Delhi government already has a winter action plan to curb air pollution. The winter plan focuses on stubble burning, firecracker pollution and industrial and vehicular emissions. The summer plan involves the participation of 30 government departments. The primary focus of the action plan is on dust pollution, which has been a major contributor to the city's worsening air quality, Kejriwal said during a press conference. "To tackle this, the government has procured 84 mechanical road sweeping machines, 609 water sprinklers and 185 mobile anti-smog guns. Additionally, 70 integrated road sweeping machines and 250 integrated water sprinklers are being procured to improve the situation further," he said. Patrolling teams have been set up to check dust pollution, open burning of garbage and dumping of waste in industrial .

Most pollution boards financially surplus but don't spend on infra: Study

11% of their total expenditure was on infrastructure and 2% was on research, development, and studies

Air Pollution Killing 1200 young people every year in Europe: EEA Report

Air Pollution causes 1200 premature deaths every year in Europe. The air pollution level in Europe is below the recommended level of the WHO

Air pollution, heat, ambient noise linked to lower sleep quality: Study

Air pollution, heat, and high levels of carbon dioxide and ambient noise may all adversely affect our ability to get a good night's sleep, according to a study. The research, published in the journal Sleep Health, is one of the first to measure multiple environmental variables in the bedroom and analyse their associations with sleep efficiencythe time spent sleeping relative to the time available for sleep. The researchers found that in a group of 62 participants tracked for two weeks with activity monitors and sleep logs, higher bedroom levels of air pollution (particulate matter less than 2.5 micrometers in size or PM2.5), carbon dioxide, noise, and temperature were all linked independently to lower sleep efficiency. "These findings highlight the importance of the bedroom environment for high-quality sleep," said study lead author Mathias Basner, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania, US. In addition to work and family obligations that compete with sleep for time, a quick

Govt implementing measures to promote public transport: Nitin Gadkari

The Minister expressed the view that about 40% of the total air pollution in the country is due to road traffic and it is necessary to promote public transport in the country

Gopal Rai asks depts to prepare action plans to curb summer air pollution

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday directed all departments concerned to prepare their respective action plans within a week to curb air pollution in the summer season. He said the government will focus on 16 areas including road dust, industrial pollution, noise pollution, water pollution, solid waste management, tree plantation and transplantation, open burning of garbage, city forests, urban farming, rejuvenation of water bodies and parks. Addressing a press conference here, Rai said based on data generated during a real-time source apportionment study, neighbouring states will be asked to take preventive action to curb pollution. The departments have been asked to submit their respective plans within a week. The Delhi government implemented a summer action plan to check air pollution for the first time last year. During its winter action plan, the government focuses on stubble management, dust pollution, vehicular emission, open burning of garbage, industrial ..

NASA sends powerful new instrument to space to track air pollution

"The TEMPO mission is about more than just studying pollution -- it's about improving life on Earth for all," NASA said

Biden is set to propose toughest-ever rules on car pollution to spur EVs

Limits on car pollution are key to helping the US meet its Paris Agreement commitment to slash greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% from 2005 levels by the end of the decade

Air pollution linked to lower antibody response to Covid vaccine: Study

People exposed to higher levels of air pollution before the pandemic had lower antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines, according to a study. In particular, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and black carbon was associated with about a 10 per cent decrease in IgM and IgG antibody responses in people without prior infection, the researchers said. The findings, published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives, provide further evidence on the adverse effects of air pollution on the immune system. "Air pollution has been linked to adverse health outcomes, including lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease, and diabetes," said Manolis Kogevinas from the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). "Air pollutants have been shown to affect immune responses, so in this study we wished to determine whether air pollution also affects antibody responses to COVID-19 vaccines," said Kogevinas. The team analysed data from 927 particip

Air pollution can affect your Covid-19 vaccine efficacy, says study

Air pollution can induce chronic inflammation, which has been associated with a negative effect on vaccine efficacy, the study said

Delhi Cabinet decides to buy mechanical sweepers, water sprinkling machines

The Delhi Cabinet decided on Tuesday to procure mechanical sweepers and water sprinkling machines to control dust pollution and to extend its power subsidy scheme for one year. The Cabinet, in a meeting, also decided to provide artificial limbs and other aides to physically disabled persons through a government agency. It approved the extension of term insurance and mediclaim under the Chief Minister Advocate Welfare Scheme, Delhi ministers Atishi and Saurabh Bharadwaj said in a press conference. It approved a proposal of the Environment department for purchasing 70 mechanical sweeping machines to remove dust on bigger roads maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD). It also decided to purchase 250 water sprinkling machines fitted with anti-smog guns, Bharadwaj said. A sum of Rs 2,388 crore will be spent on this in the next seven to 10 years and in the first year, the expenditure will be Rs 257 crore, he said. Atishi said the Cabinet decided to provide power subsidy to the .

AAP govt reduced pollution by 30% in last 8 years: Delhi CM Kejriwal

AAP govt reduced pollution by 30 per cent in 8 years, ensuring 24X7 power supply and less than 7% transmission losses, said Delhi CM Kejriwal in Assembly

TMSEp396: US Fed rate hike, Bisleri, air pollution, Credit Suisse AT1 bonds

How will US Fed policy outcome affect markets? What's happening with Bisleri? Why can't Indian cities curb air pollution? What happened to Credit Suisse's AT1 bonds? All answers here

Harder to breathe: Mumbai wheezes its way to becoming pollution capital

Financial capital sees spurt in respiratory ailments as La Niña and construction worsen air quality to historic lows

NGT forms panel to verify claim of air pollution around AIIMS Delhi

The National Green Tribunal has formed a panel to verify the allegations of severe air pollution in and around the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here. The NGT was hearing a plea which claimed that air pollution was jeopardising the health of the indoor as well as OPD patients, doctors and other staffers of AIIMS-Delhi. The petition claimed statutory and administrative authorities failed to control air pollution around AIIMS. "We are satisfied that the matter needs consideration and facts need to be verified by an independent expert committee... Accordingly, we constitute a seven-member joint committee to be headed by the member secretary, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), deputy commissioner of police (Traffic), area divisional or district forest officer (DFO) and the municipal corporation of Delhi (MCD)," a bench comprising NGT chairperson Justice A K Goel said. The bench, also comprising judicial member Justice Sudhir Agarwal and expert member A Senthil Ve