You must have been hearing and reading a lot about the Delhi smog, but never would have you imagined that it would lead to this shocking piece of news. Delhi is currently the most polluted city in the world, according to International news channel CNN. Yes, that’s right!
The news report says that the Indian capital’s air quality was so poor on November 7 that it was almost five times of the value that is considered “unhealthy” by the US environmental protection agency.
Measurements taken at the US Embassy in Delhi put the city’s Air Quality Index at 999 on Monday, which is way above the “hazardous” level of 500.
[Image courtesy: CNN]
In comparison, Beijing’s air quality was way pleasant than India at 298 AQI. It must be noted here that Beijing is considered to be the most polluted city in the world.
SC describes Delhi pollution as “dreaded and severe”
The Supreme Court on Tuesday defined pollution in Delhi as “dreaded”, “severe” and “disaster”. The court also asked the government to up its game and figure out a solution to tackle the severe pollution problem by Thursday. Delhi has been enveloped in thick smog since last weekend’s Diwali celebrations.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had ordered over 1800 schools in the National capital to remain shut for a couple of days due to the health hazards associated with the smog.
While the Delhi government has listed out certain measures to combat the problem, Arvind Kejriwal recently blamed the massive crop burning in Punjab and Haryana for the pollution. Environmentalists, however, blame the Diwali crackers for the worsening of the situation.
Keeping safe
Whatever be the cause, the most affected are kids and elderly who have to stand in long queues to buy smog-protecting masks outside health clinics as they are also running out of stock. Here are a few tips to prevent the smog from affecting your health:
1. Buy a good quality face mask: Doctors have advised using a good, quality pollution mask, one that comes with an active carbon layer and a valve that opens and shuts each time you breathe in and out. The best ones are Vogmask, 3M or N95 masks.
2. Limit outdoor activity:It’s also advisable to limit your outdoor activity, especially kids and elderly who are already suffering from breathing-related health issues.
3. Watch out for these symptoms: Heavy smog can irritate your respiratory system leading to coughing and throat or chest irritation. If you suffer from asthma, be wary of asthma attacks.
Also Read: 8 things you should do to protect your children from air pollution
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