Delhi Air Quality Deteriorates: ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’ levels recorded

On Thursday, some areas of the national capital continued to experience 'poor' air quality as a light smog covered these places and impaired visibility.

The AQI for the national capital, as reported by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was noted at 287 at 8 a.m.

Area-wise AQI readings

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The monitoring stations scattered across the city confirmed low air quality, measuring the pollution levels in the 'poor' category range only. The AQI was 246 at Aya Nagar, 295 at Burari, 289 at Dwarka, and 233 at Lodhi Road in the morning.

In contrast, Anand Vihar and Delhi Cantonment were the worst affected areas as they recorded the AQI level of 302, which is classified under the 'Very Poor' category.

Moreover, other leading stations like Ashok Vihar (332), Bawana (335), ITO Delhi (310), Chandni Chowk (309), and Alipur (315), were also categorized as 'very poor', reflecting the extensive area of pollution in Delhi.

Understanding AQI categories

According to AQI classification, the score of 0–50 is termed 'good', 51–100 'satisfactory', 101–200 'moderate', 201–300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'.

"The CPCB informs that the AQI type from 0 to 500 is divided destructively into six classes which point out the effect of pollution on the well-being along with the level of risks."

Health implications of AQI levels

An AQI score of 0–50 is flagged as ‘Good,’ denoting no or minimal health impact. A range of 51-100 is rated as ‘Satisfactory’ which implies that the air quality is generally acceptable but still sensitive groups such as children, old people, and those with respiratory ailments may have minor discomfort.

The ‘Moderate’ segment, comprising AQI ratings from 101 to 200, suggests that the pollution has increased to such a degree that it may be harmful to bronchial asthma, lung and heart disorders patients who might experience difficulty in breathing, as reported by ANI.

An AQI value of 201 to 300 is classified under the 'Poor' category where if people are exposed for a longer time, even the healthy ones may experience breathing difficulties, not just those with existing health problems.