Delhi Air Turns Toxic: Here Are Dos & Don'ts For Children, Senior Citizens

Delhi experiences severe pollution, driven by a combination of factors such as low wind speeds, dropping temperatures during the winter season.

A thick blanket of smog covered India Gate.

Source : PTI

The air quality in Delhi remained 'very poor' on Thursday with an air quality index of 336, slightly better than Monday. The air quality index around the same time on Wednesday was 354, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The situation looks grim as the national capital has been covered in a thick blanket of smog just ahead of Diwali even as there has been a complete ban on firecrackers. Delhi experienced six "very poor" air quality days between September 15 and October 21, 2024, compared to just three during the same period in 2023.

Station	AQI
ITO	324
Jahangirpuri	394
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium	287
Lodhi Road	287
Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium	347
Mandir Marg	341
Mundka	368
NSIT, Dwarka	378
Najafgarh	348
Narela	339
Nehru Nagar	346
North Campus, DU	365
Patparganj	345
Punjabi Bagh	349
Pusa	349
RK Puram	359
Rohini	373
Sirifort	336
Bawana	383
Sonia Vihar	364
Sri Aurobindo Marg	332
Wazirpur	387
Alipur	343
Anand Vihar	392
Ashok Vihar	350
Burari Crossing	357
Dwarka	348
IGI Airport	334

Children and senior citizens are the worst affected by the air pollution that starts with the arrival of autumn in the national capital. The Delhi State Health Mission has suggested some dos and don'ts as the pollution may rise in the coming days.

Dos

• Wash your eyes with running water.
• Regular gargles with lukewarm water.
• Eat a healthy balanced diet including fruits and vegetables.
• Consult a doctor in case of breathlessness, giddiness, cough, chest discomfort or pain, or irritation in the eyes (red or watery).
• Use public transport or carpools.
• Practice wet mopping instead of sweeping, inside homes and workplaces.
• Use air-purifying plants.
• Follow a diet rich in antioxidants.

Don'ts

• Avoid places with high air pollution like slow and heavy traffic roads, areas near polluting industries, construction/ demolition sites etc.
• Avoid outdoor morning and late evening walks, jogging, running, and physical exercise specifically during days with severe AQI.
• Don’t smoke tobacco products.
• Avoid burning mosquito coils and incense sticks in closed premises.
• Avoid the burning of wood, leaves, crop residues, and waste.
• Don't burn firecrackers.

Air quality is classified under four different stages: Stage I – 'Poor'’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III – 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – 'Severe Plus' (AQI>450). Delhi experiences severe pollution, driven by a combination of factors such as low wind speeds, dropping temperatures, high moisture levels and the presence of pollution particles that act as surfaces for condensation during the winters.