Not winter, yet Delhi-NCR cities record 'severe' AQI in morning

MEERUT: The Air Quality Index (AQI) in several Delhi-NCR cities has been slipping into the "severe" category in the early morning hours, causing concerns among health-watchers.

AQI levels usually rise alarmingly during the winter and Delhi-NCR reels under a massive sheet of smog that envelops the region. The rise in AQI levels even as the region is reeling under a heatwave with temperatures crossing 40 degrees has come as a surprise.

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N Subhash, principal scientist, agriculture meteorology, Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel Agriculture University said, "This is the result of integrated factors. Firstly, the morning temperature is still hovering around 18 degrees celsius and the air is heavy. Residue burning is also taking place for crops such as mustard and sugarcane. Besides, dry leaves are also burnt, affecting air quality." Dust is the main pollutant at this time of the year that raises PM10 levels in the air. The extremely dry conditions currently seen in the region, in addition to westerly winds from Rajasthan, are adding to dust pollution.

On Saturday, the 24-hour average AQI slipped into the "very poor" zone in Manesar (301), Greater Noida (311), Gurgaon (312) and Meerut (313), from the "poor" range on Friday. Experts say that even though the 24-hour average AQI in Delhi-NCR ranges between "poor" and "very poor", morning data exhibits "severe" levels that can affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases. Meerut, Greater Noida, Noida, Ghaziabad, Muzaffarnagar, and Baghpat exhibited above-400 AQI levels (severe category), which is a "severe" situation according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

These levels were recorded in the morning and seen reducing as the temperature rose and winds blew through the day, falling to "poor" or even "moderate" levels.

"AQI turns poor during the mornings and the air becomes heavy. Suspended PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants cause breathing discomfort to people. Windy days are still better as fast-moving air takes away toxic pollutants,” said Meerut-based physician Dr Harish Mohan Rastogi.