Pollution levels in Delhi rose today leadinꦗg to a dip in air quality with monitoring agencies forecasting a further spike over the next few days.
The Air Quality Index (AQI), calculated by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was 352 on a scale of 500. A score between 301😼 and 400 is considered 'very poor', which can trigger respiratory illness on prolonged exposure.
Yesterday's AQI was 322. Scientists attributed the rise in pollution to a fall in wind speed and increased moisture🎃 in the air.
The⛦ volume of particulate matter (PM), the dominant pollutants in Delhi's air, rose through ♌the day.
SAFAR, an agency under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, readings had🌱 PM2.5 at 194 and PM10 at 309 micrograms per cubic metre (ug/m3).
When levels of PM2.5 go above 300 ug/m3 and PM10 breach 500 ug/m3, pol𒁃lu♕tion is considered as 'severe plus' or emergency. The corresponding 24-hour safe limits of these ultrafine particulates are 60 and 100.
According to the CPCB's air lab chief ꦰDipankar Saha and SAFAR's prediction, thꦚe concentration of particulate matter will gradually rise over the next few days.
Saha said that falling wind speed, from yest𝐆erday's 7 km/hour to 3 km/hour today, and rising moisture levels are behind the spike as in the absence of dispersion, local emissions are only leading to accumulation of pollutants.
During winters, as temperature drops, pollutants are trapped near the surface due to a slew of mete🍒orological factors.
Fac🌠tors such as high wind speed and bright sunshine and mitigate its impact to some extent.
Earlier this month, on November 9, the AQI had turned 4🎐86 as PM🔯 levels breached the emergency limits.
Authorities announced a set of sweeping measures such as closure൲ of schools and ban on entry of trucks and construction activities to deal with the "health emergency".
PTI
