According to reports, it is anticipated that pollution levels will deteriorate in the coming weeks for several reasons. The current haziness in Delhi is primarily a result of local pollutants accumulating in the air due to the combination of decreasing temperatures and calm winds. Additionally, the impact of farm fires in neighboring states remains limited due to the favorable wind direction.
The city's transportation sector was responsible for 11.4%, and neighboring Gautam Budh Nagar contributed 10.4% to the pollution levels. It's important to note that the Decision Support System (DSS) does not provide real-time measurements of pollutants.
In the past week, the incidence of farm fires in Punjab and Haryana has risen, although it has not yet reached the typical levels for this time of year. On Tuesday, Punjab and Haryana reported a total of 1,556 farm fires, which is nearly triple the count from a week ago (442).
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The elevated pollution levels, such as those currently affecting Delhi, pose a risk to the well-being of even healthy adults. Contaminated air can lead to health issues including bronchitis, asthma, anemia, acute respiratory infections, and even nausea.
According to a 2018 study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO), pregnant women exposed to polluted air have a higher likelihood of experiencing premature births and delivering small, low-weight infants. Air pollution can also negatively affect neurodevelopment, cognitive abilities, and potentially lead to childhood cancer. Furthermore, children exposed to elevated levels of air pollution may face an increased risk of developing chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease in later stages of life, as indicated by the WHO.
