Page 49 - Air Pollution

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Less than 1% of earth has safe levels of air pollution, study finds

Air quality is particularly worrisome in regions such as southern Asia and eastern Asia, where more than 90% of days had PM2.5 concentrations above the 15 microgram threshold

Delhi records cleanest air day since last October, average AQI of 135

Delhi on Monday logged a 24-hour average AQI of 135, the lowest since October 13 last year, owing to chilly winds that swept through the city dispersing the pollutants. The cold northwesterly winds -- blowing up to a speed of 48 kmph -- from the mountainous regions led to a drop in temperatures. The city recorded a high of 23.2 degrees Celsius, normal for this time of the year and a minimum temperature of 8.7 degrees Celsius, two notches below the season's average. Humidity level during the day oscillated between 25 per cent and 62 per cent. The weather department has forecast a mainly clear sky with strong surface winds and occasional gusty winds for Tuesday. The maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to settle around 26 degrees Celsius and 12 degrees Celsius respectively on Tuesday. An AQI between zero and 50 is considered good, 51 and 100 satisfactory, 101 and 200 moderate, 201 and 300 poor, 301 and 400 very poor, and 401 and 500 severe. According to the Ministry of Earth

Centre's air quality panel tightens curbs on use of DG sets in Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday said diesel generator (DG) sets of capacity up to 800 kilowatt can be permitted for industrial and commercial operations in Delhi-NCR from May 15 only after their conversion to the dual fuel system (gas and diesel). However, their operations will continue to be restricted during the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) period, it said. With effect from May 15, "any use of DG sets of capacity up to 800 kW shall be permitted for industrial and commercial sector in the entire NCR, only subject to their conversion to dual fuel system (70 per cent gas and 30 per cent diesel) in areas where gas infrastructure and supply is available", the Centre's air quality panel said in a statement. It observed that uncontrolled use of DG sets is a matter of concern. "A large number of DG sets operating in Delhi-NCR without adequate emission control measures, even during the periods other than the ban under GRAP, cause heavy air pollution and ar

Action plans helped reduce pollution by 20% at Anand Vihar, Delhi

Particulate pollution at Anand Vihar, one of the 13 air pollution hotspots in Delhi, declined by around 20 per cent after the city government's Environment department inventorised and mapped point sources and took site-specific measures, officials said. It is a first-of-its-kind project in Delhi. The pilot phase has been successful. It will now be replicated in all the 13 hotspots this year, an Environment department official said. The department inventorised and mapped around 470 major and minor air pollution sources in the area, especially in the region surrounding the continuous ambient air quality monitoring station. Major point sources included the Regional Rapid Transit System construction site, a construction and demolition site behind the Anand Vihar Inter-State Bus Terminal, traffic congestion at the railway station exit, the Uttar Pradesh Roadways Bus Terminal at Kaushambi, an unpaved parking of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and the Patparganj industrial area, among .

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