Air quality in Delhi deteriorates significantly after Diwali

The air quality in the national capital deteriorated significantly and noise pollution witnessed an upward trend following Diwali but the level of pollutants was on the lower side compared to what it was during the celebrations last year.
Scientists from System of Air quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), which directly affects breathing, has gone up by five times from the national ambiance air quality standard.
Government-run Delhi Pollution Control Committee chose not to comment on SAFAR's findings but only said the pollution level was much less compared to Diwali last year.

Ambient air quality monitoring was done by DPCC at six locations-- R K Puram, Mandir Marg, Punjabi Bagh, Civil Lines, Anand Vihar and IGI airport-- and in all areas an upward trend in RSPM was recorded since 10 PM last night, the DPCC said.
"As compared to last week, PM2.5 and PM10 have shown higher values than prescribed standards. However, this concentration is in tandem with values observed in pre Diwali in the previous years. No significant changes were observed and the same trend was observed in the gaseous pollutants," said Sanjeev Kumar, Environment Secretary.
The noise pollution levels, according to the data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), showed an upward trend in various areas including in Dwarka, Bawana and and Dilshad Garden which recorded higher noise level of up to 66 dB(A). Last Diwali, the maximum noise level in these areas were 62 dB(A).

"The 24-hours average of PM10 was recorded at 427 mg per cubic metre and PM2.5 was at 278 mpcm, almost five times higher than the prescribed standard of 100 mpcm and 60 mpcm respectively," said senior scientist Dr Gufran Beig at SAFAR, which is jointly run by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and India Meteorological Department.
"These pollutants can harm the heart and brain as well. People with existing heart or lung diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart disease, or ischemic heart disease are at increased risk of admission to hospitals based on the severity of already existing problem," he said.