After Delhi celebrated Dussehra, doctors in the national Capital are treating increasing number of patients with respiratory ailments. The extreme use of crackers during the celebrations have raised the level of pollution in the city. Delhi recorded 'unhealthy' level of air pollution on Wednesday with many parts of the city reporting high levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5.
POLLUTION LEVEL ALARMING FOR NORMAL POPULATION
"Almost 60 per cent of the patients came with respiratory illness on Wednesday. The weather has changed in Delhi and after Dussehra celebrations the air got polluted. This is the time when people with a history of asthma and respiratory ailments should take extra care," said Dr SP Byotra, senior consultant, department of internal medicine, Sir Ganga Ram hospital.
On Wednesday the air quality index (AQI) in AnandVihar was recorded at 369 - which is considered to be hazardous. Gurugram recorded the AQI of 410. An AQI is a number used by government agencies to communicate how polluted the air curcurrently is or how polluted it is to become. As the AQI increases, large percentage of the population is likely to experience severe adverse health effects.
"The alarming level of pollution in the city is detrimental for not only people suffering from respiratory illnesses but also for the normal population. We are advising air-sensitive kids and the elderly to stay indoors with air purifiers at work," said Dr ManavManchanda, pulmonologist, Asian Institute of Medical Science.
NO CHANCE TO ACCLIMATISE DUE TO TEMP DIP
"The dip in temperature is causing an increasing incidence of upper respiratory tract infections and cases of viral fever, cough and cold. The difference of temperature (day and night) affects the immune system and results in infections as a person's body does not get a chance to acclimatise to the sudden fall and rise in temperature," he added.
People have been advised to cover their faces while walking; asthmatic patients must carry an inhaler.
STUBBLE BURNING MAJOR CONTRIBUTOR
Recently a report prepared jointly by TERI and the University of California, San Diego said, about 60 to 80 per cent of ozone concentration in Delhi was also attributed to sources outside the city. Even if all emissions from Delhi were to be stopped, the PM (particulate matter) levels would still exceed the standards at several locations in the city, mainly due to higher contributions from outside regions to Delhi's air quality, the report had said.
Delhi environment minister Imran Hussain on Tuesday had written to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan governments urging them to take steps to curb burning of crop stubble.
Stubble burning in this season is a major contributor to air pollution apart from road dust, industrial sources and vehicular emissions.
ONSET OF WINTER DELHI FACE CRITICAL POLLUTION PHASE
"With the onset of winter season, Delhi faces a critical phase of pollution due to meteorological conditions like wind pattern and low temperature, which aggravates pollution level especially concentration of particulate matters. The detailed analysis of ambient data shows pollutants increasing trend in the month of October-November, which coincides with agricultural burning in the neighbouring states," the letter said.
The maximum and minimum temperatures on Wednesday were recorded at 33 and 20.4 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The humidity levels oscillated between 81 and 35 per cent. The weatherman has predicted a clear day for Thursday with possibility of mist in the morning. The maximum and minimum temperatures for Thursday are likely to be 34 and 20 degrees Celsius.
