The Capital is presently observing extreme Air Pollution and each day sees the quality go down. This is a major cause of concern, considering that the Delhi NCR region is suffering from pollution that has become common for every winter season. SMOG has engulfed the entire of Delhi, prompting residents of the Capital to complain more regularly about air-borne diseases and ill-health linked to bad air quality. A number of such initiatives have been getting underway, some under pressure from local civil society organizations, engaging on the local, national, and international fronts. However, since the aggravating air quality will now allow for the 50 percent WFH rule for government staff, this is going to be temporary relief for the employees who daily face difficulties in commuting from their homes to offices. Like smoke from the wildfires often set by people, particulate matters and gases are released in nature into the atmosphere and volcanic eruptions, for instance, ash and gases, and others like methane emitted by decomposing organic matter in the soil. Traffic-related air pollution (TRAP), a mixture of gases and airborne particles. Ground-level ozone, several forms of carbon, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, volatile organic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fine particulate matter have most of the elements of human-made air pollution. When ozone is at ground level, it is often called smog. It forms when pollutants emitted by cars, power plants, industrial boilers, refineries, and other sources undergo a series of chemically reactive processes in the presence of sunlight.
Particulate matter (PM) refers to chemicals such as sulfates, nitrates, carbonaceous material, or mineral dusts. Sources of PM include vehicle and industrial emissions from fossil fuel combustion, cigarette smoke, and burning organic material, including wildfires. A subset of PM, PM 2.5 represents fine particulate matter 30 times smaller than human hair. It can deeply penetrate the lung tissue and contribute to severe health problems. The PM 2.5 represents most of the health effects of air pollution in the United States. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are aggressive at or around room temperature, hence the name volatile. They are termed organic because they contain carbon. VOCs are emitted from paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, furnishings, and some craft materials-such as glue. VOCs are also released through burning gasoline or natural gas.
The capital of India, Delhi, woke to smog covering a thick curtain across the city and air quality had reached the severe zone. Delhi and its metropolitan region have had pollution levels reach high over 30-35 times the safe limits recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year, from October to January, Delhi and States in the north are subject to hazardous air caused by falling temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speed, crop stubble burning, fumes from cars, etc. This time, observers say, conditions are predicted to worsen also in the next days. As per a SWISS-based Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring group IQAir, air pollution peaked above 500 in some parts of Delhi on Wednesday morning. The AQI measures PM 2.5 particle levels in the atmosphere. These are tiny particles that pass into the lungs and cause a variety of diseases. AQI values of 100 and less are considered satisfactory for breathing as per WHO guidelines, while readings in the range of 400–500 mean the area is suffering from "severe" pollution levels. The satellite cities of Noida and Gurgaon have also recorded AQI levels reaching as high as 500. Several northern states have seen weeks of toxic air and poor visibility. Reports have trickled in of flights arriving in and departing from Delhi being delayed or canceled due to poor visibility. The thickness of the smog is such that it can be seen even from outer space. Not so long ago, Nasa shared satellite imagery showing a blanket of smog covering much of Northern India and neighboring Pakistan. The toxic air is also affecting people's health.
In addition, some would say that air pollution and climate change depend on each other through the intricate interactions it presents with the atmosphere. Climate change has a strong interlink with air pollution because both problems stem from similar sources, such as emissions from burning fossil fuels. Both of them deprive people's health and instill fear into the environment worldwide.
Immediate action must be taken to stop this alarming growth of pollution. One of the best ways to protect air quality is to reduce emissions of pollutants from the use of cleaner fuels and clean processes. The pollutants that are not so caught or trapped must have been generated with the full knowledge that they cannot be allowed to escape into the atmosphere. It is the bounden duty of all citizens to come forth with volition to provide the necessary cooperation with the government in combating air pollution.
(Writer:- Vivek Koul)
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