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Toxic cocktail of pollution during early winter in Delhi-NCR: Centre for Science and Environment

The new assessment of the early winter trends (October-November) and annual air quality trends in the national capital by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), exposes the growing toxicity of the air, worsening of air quality in smaller towns of the National Capital region (NCR), and the risk of reversal of long term air quality gains in the city. Despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, Delhi’s air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the CSE said in a report released on Monday. “Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy,” says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE in the CSE report. “What further stands out is the stubborn stability and the vast spread of the pollution levels across the NCR region as well as the worsening and proliferation of more pollution hotspots in the city. The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated”, says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, Clean Air unit, in CSE. This CSE analysis is based on the air quality data accessed from the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board. Meanwhile, CPCB on Tuesday categorised Delhi AQI (Air Quality Index) as ‘Very Poor’. The AQI in Delhi is reported to be around 304, according to the latest data. Most of the areas were seen to be blanketed by a layer of smog.The AQI in the Anand Vihar area of Delhi was around 383, categorised as ‘Very Poor’ by CPCB, and the area was seen to be blanketed by a layer of smog.The area around Akshardham Temple was also seen blanketed in smog, with the AQI at 383 in the ‘Very Poor’ category, according to the CPCB. The ITO area had an AQI of about 331, categorised as ‘Very Poor’, by CPCB while the AQI for the Ghazipur area was reported to be 383, also categorised as ‘Very Poor’. According to CPCB, the AQI, which ranges from 0 to 500, is divided into six categories, each reflecting the level of pollution and associated health risks. An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as “Good”, indicating minimal or no health impact. AQI levels from 51 to 100 fall into the “Satisfactory” category, where air quality remains acceptable, though sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues may experience slight discomfort. The “Moderate” category, ranging from 101 to 200, signals increasing pollution levels that can trigger breathing difficulties among people with asthma, lung conditions, or heart diseases. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered “Poor”, a range in which prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort to most people, not just those with pre-existing health issues. This level has become increasingly common in several parts of the capital during winter. Levels between 301 and 400 are marked as “Very Poor”, posing a risk of respiratory illnesses even to healthy individuals when exposure continues for long periods. The most hazardous category, “Severe,” includes AQI values from 401 to 500. At this stage, air quality becomes dangerous for everyone.-ANI

Delhi-NCR AQI: Air quality remains in 'very poor' levels, AQI crosses 400 in Anand Vihar, Bawana, Chandni Chowk; check areawise pollution levels

Delhi's air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in a report. Check Delhi's areawise AQI levels here Delhi's toxic quality due to local pollution sources: CSE Despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, Delhi's air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said in a report released on Monday."Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy," says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE in the CSE report. "What further stands out is the stubborn stability and the vast spread of the pollution levels across the NCR region as well as the worsening and proliferation of more pollution hotspots in the city. The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated", says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, Clean Air unit, in CSE.This CSE analysis is based on the air quality data accessed from the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board.

Toxic cocktail of pollution during early winter in Delhi-NCR: CSE

The new assessment of the early winter trends (October-November) and annual air quality trends in the national capital by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), exposes the growing toxicity of the air, worsening of air quality in smaller towns of the National Capital region (NCR), and the risk of reversal of long term air quality gains in the city. Despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, Delhi's air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the CSE said in a report released on Monday. "Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy," says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE in the CSE report. "What further stands out is the stubborn stability and the vast spread of the pollution levels across the NCR region as well as the worsening and proliferation of more pollution hotspots in the city. The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated", says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, Clean Air unit, in CSE. This CSE analysis is based on the air quality data accessed from the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board.

Chemical suppressants, not water, can remove more dust from roads, says study

Dr Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director (Research and Advocacy) at Centre for Science and Environment had earlier told The Indian Express that the long-term efficacy and the impact of dust suppressants need to be studied and no information is available on this as of now. On an average, around 3,000 km of roads in Delhi are being mechanically swept every day with the help of water sprinklers to reduce loose dust in a bid to tackle dust pollution – considered to be one of the major contributors to air pollution in the Capital. However, this may not be enough. According to a study conducted by Enviro Policy Research India (EPRI) in association with National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), chemical dust suppressants, and not water, have shown higher effectiveness in reducing particulate matter. The study, commissioned by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) in 2018, showed that the use of chemical dust suppressants had 50-60% higher efficacy than the use of water, which recorded an efficacy of 25-30%. The CPCB, which spent around Rs 2.97 lakh on the study, had recently quoted this study while replying to an RTI filed by Noida-based social activist Amit Gupta. However, experts flagged disadvantages that come with the use of chemical dust suppressants. While these can be used on road surfaces that see minimal disturbance, concerns have also been raised about the likely impact of chemicals on public health with poorly regulated application estimated to “trigger hazardous environmental consequences”.

Punjab defamed on Delhi pollution: MLA Kuldeep Dhaliwal

Chief spokesperson of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal today launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central and Delhi governments over the worsening pollution levels in the national capital. Dhaliwal said that for several years, as part of a well planned conspiracy, the Central government, and now even the Delhi government, has been blaming the farmers of Punjab for the pollution there and defaming them, but the truth of both these governments has now come out in front of everyone. Addressing the media during a press conference on Tuesday, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the data presented yesterday in the Lok Sabha by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav has made everything clear. The Union Minister himself informed the House that stubble burning incidents in Punjab have reduced by up to 90 per cent. "This statement proves that the way the BJP and the Delhi government have been creating noise by holding Punjab solely responsible for Delhi's pollution was completely false and politically motivated," said Dhaliwal. He said that the truth is that the main reason behind Delhi's rising pollution is its own industrial waste. He said that a reputed organisation working on environmental issues, Centre for Science and Environment or CSE, has clearly stated in its report that the real cause of Delhi's pollution is industrial waste and the smoke emitted from fires in the mountains of garbage. Dhaliwal held the Delhi government directly responsible for this. He questioned Delhi CM Rekha Gupta and Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa, asking them to tell the people of Delhi that when stubble burning in Punjab has become negligible, then who is now responsible for Delhi's pollution?

Toxic cocktail of pollution during early winter in Delhi-NCR: Centre for Science and Environment

The new assessment of the early winter trends (October-November) and annual air quality trends in the national capital by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), exposes the growing toxicity of the air, worsening of air quality in smaller towns of the National Capital region (NCR), and the risk of reversal of long term air quality gains in the city. Despite a significantly lower contribution from farm fires this season, Delhi's air quality has still slipped into the very poor to severe, pointing to the impact of local pollution sources, mainly from vehicles and combustion sources, the CSE said in a report released on Monday. "Delhi and NCR cannot hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires any more as even with much lesser contribution to local air quality this time, air quality has turned very poor to severe, exposing the impact of local sources. But more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy," says Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director at CSE in the CSE report. "What further stands out is the stubborn stability and the vast spread of the pollution levels across the NCR region as well as the worsening and proliferation of more pollution hotspots in the city. The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated", says Sharanjeet Kaur, deputy programme manager, Urban Lab, Clean Air unit, in CSE. This CSE analysis is based on the air quality data accessed from the portal of the Central Pollution Control Board. Meanwhile, CPCB on Tuesday categorised Delhi AQI (Air Quality Index) as 'Very Poor'. The AQI in Delhi is reported to be around 304, according to the latest data. Most of the areas were seen to be blanketed by a layer of smog.The AQI in the Anand Vihar area of Delhi was around 383, categorised as 'Very Poor' by CPCB, and the area was seen to be blanketed by a layer of smog.The area around Akshardham Temple was also seen blanketed in smog, with the AQI at 383 in the 'Very Poor' category, according to the CPCB. The ITO area had an AQI of about 331, categorised as 'Very Poor', by CPCB while the AQI for the Ghazipur area was reported to be 383, also categorised as 'Very Poor'. According to CPCB, the AQI, which ranges from 0 to 500, is divided into six categories, each reflecting the level of pollution and associated health risks. An AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as "Good", indicating minimal or no health impact. AQI levels from 51 to 100 fall into the "Satisfactory" category, where air quality remains acceptable, though sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues may experience slight discomfort. The "Moderate" category, ranging from 101 to 200, signals increasing pollution levels that can trigger breathing difficulties among people with asthma, lung conditions, or heart diseases. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "Poor", a range in which prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort to most people, not just those with pre-existing health issues. This level has become increasingly common in several parts of the capital during winter. Levels between 301 and 400 are marked as "Very Poor", posing a risk of respiratory illnesses even to healthy individuals when exposure continues for long periods. The most hazardous category, "Severe," includes AQI values from 401 to 500. At this stage, air quality becomes dangerous for everyone.

दिल्ली-NCR में शुरुआती सर्दियों में बढ़ा जहरीला धुंआ: रिपोर्ट में बड़े खतरे का खुलासा

सेंटर फॉर साइंस एंड एनवायरनमेंट (CSE) की नई रिपोर्ट ने चेतावनी दी है कि इस साल अक्टूबर-नवंबर के शुरुआती सर्दियों में दिल्ली-NCR की हवा और ज्यादा जहरीली हो गई है। रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है कि पराली जलने की घटनाएँ पिछले वर्षों की तुलना में कम होने के बावजूद दिल्ली की हवा बहुत खराब से गंभीर श्रेणी में पहुंच गई, जो स्थानीय प्रदूषण स्रोतों—खासकर वाहनों और दहन स्रोतों—के बढ़ते प्रभाव को उजागर करती है। स्थानीय प्रदूषण बना बड़ा कारण: CSE CSE की कार्यकारी निदेशक अनुमिता रॉय चौधरी ने कहा:“दिल्ली अब पराली के धुएं को ढाल बनाकर नहीं छुप सकती। स्थानीय स्रोतों से PM2.5, NO2 और CO का एक ‘जहरीला मिश्रण’ बन रहा है, जिसे नजरअंदाज किया गया है।”उन्होंने कहा कि दिल्ली की लम्बी अवधि की एयर क्वालिटी में भी अब सुधार की गति ठहर गई है, जो बुनियादी परिवर्तन की जरूरत को दर्शाता है। NCR के छोटे शहरों में हालात और भी खराब CSE की डिप्टी प्रोग्राम मैनेजर शरणजीत कौर ने कहा कि NCR के छोटे शहरों में धुंध की परत ज्यादा तीव्र और लंबे समय तक बनी रहती है। कम पराली धुएं के बावजूद पूरा क्षेत्र “अधिक संतृप्त” होता जा रहा है।

Air Pollution: पराली नहीं, ये है दिल्ली की हवा का 'जहरीला दुश्मन'...CSE की रिपोर्ट में खुलासा

Delhi Air Pollution: दिल्ली में एक्यूआई एक बार फिर 300 के पार पहुंच गया है। इस बीच दिल्ली की खराब हवा को लेकर सीएसई की रिपोर्ट सामने आई है।

Delhi’s Air Quality Slips Back to ‘Very Poor’ Amid Persistent Winter Smog !

Delhi’s air quality deteriorated to the ‘very poor’ category on Wednesday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at around 335-375, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). This marks a return to hazardous levels after a brief respite over the weekend, when stronger winds temporarily improved conditions. he CPCB classifies AQI as follows: 0-50 ‘good’, 51-100 ‘satisfactory’, 101-200 ‘moderate’, 201-300 ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’. Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar and Nehru Nagar, reported readings in the ‘severe’ range, exacerbating health risks for residents. Brief Respite Ends as Local Sources Dominate Delhi experienced cleaner air on November 30 and December 1, with AQI dropping to the ‘poor’ category due to favourable winds. However, calm conditions and low temperatures have since trapped pollutants, pushing levels back up. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported shallow fog and high humidity, contributing to the stagnation. A recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) underscores that vehicular emissions, not stubble burning, are the primary drivers of daily pollution spikes this winter. Despite farm fires in Punjab and Haryana reaching multi-year lows – partly due to floods disrupting crop cycles – Delhi’s air remained suffocating. At least 22 monitoring stations recorded carbon monoxide (CO) levels above limits on over 30 of 59 days assessed, with hotspots like Dwarka Sector 8 and Jahangirpuri frequently breached. The CSE report highlights a “toxic cocktail” of PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and CO from vehicles, industry, and local combustion sources. Stubble burning contributed less than 5% on most days, peaking at 22% briefly in November. Public Outcry and Political Response Frustration boiled over in November with protests at India Gate, where residents demanded urgent action on the “health emergency.” Demonstrators, including parents and activists, faced detentions, drawing criticism from opposition leaders. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence and called for a parliamentary debate, highlighting impacts on children.

Delhi AQI today: Battle with pollution gets 'severe' as 14 locations record toxic air quality

Delhi recorded ‘severe’ air quality at several locations on Wednesday morning. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data from 40 monitoring stations across Delhi, as many as 14 stations recorded AQI above 401 at 7:05 am, falling in the ‘severe’ category. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the national capital stood at 376 on 3 December. This comes after Delhi registered an AQI of 279 in the ‘poor’ range on 30 November, 304 on 1 December and 372 on 2 December. As a blanket of smog covers the capital, Delhi recorded an AQI reading in ‘very poor’ category. CPCB's Sameer app reading shows NSIT Dwarka as the only location across the national capital with AQI in ‘poor’ range. All the remaining 25 stations recorded ‘very poor’ AQI today. Nehru Nagar and Chandni Chowk recorded the worst air quality today. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently released a report analysing annual air quality trends in the national capital early winter months — October to November. Giving a clear view of the growing toxicity of the air, the report said, “More worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy.”

Delhi AQI Today: Battle With Pollution Gets 'Severe' As 14 Locations Record Toxic Air Quality

Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality at several locations on Wednesday morning. As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data from 40 monitoring stations across Delhi, as many 14 stations recorded AQI above 401 at 7:05 AM, falling in severe category. The average Air Quality Index (AQI) for the national capital stood at 376 on 3 December. This comes after Delhi registered 279 AQI in 'poror' range on 30 November, 304 on 1 December and 372 on 2 December. As a blanket of smog covers the capital city, Delhi recorded an AQI reading of 376. The list of areas where the air pollution level is the highest and AQI is in 'severe' range is listed below: Anand Vihar - 405 Ashok Vikar - 403 Bawana - 408 Chandni Chowk - 431 Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range - 406 Jahangirpuri - 406 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium - 405 Nehru Nagar - 436 Okhla - 404 RK Puram - 420 Rohini - 417 Sirifort - 408 Vivek Vihar - 415 Wazirpur - 406 CPCB's Sameer app reading shows NSIT Dwarka as the only location across the national capital with AQI in 'poor' range. All the remaining 25 stations recorded 'very poor' AQI today. Nehru Nagar and Chandni Chowk recorded the worst air quality today. The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) recently releases a report analysing annual air quality trends in the national capital early winter months - October to November. Giving a clear view the growing toxicity of the air, the report said,“more worrying is the daily synchronised rise of PM2.5 and other toxic gases of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) largely from vehicles and combustion sources, creating a toxic cocktail that has gone unnoticed. The long-term air quality trend in Delhi has also plateaued without showing improvement. This signals an urgent need for deep-rooted shifts in infrastructure and systems to upscale action to cut emissions from vehicles, industry, power plants, waste, construction and household energy.” Chronic exposure to toxic air not only triggers breathing difficulties among people with asthma, lung conditions or heart diseases but also poses risk of respiratory diseases even in healthy individuals. Pointing to worsening of air quality in smaller towns of the National Capital region (NCR), the report added, "The tinier towns in the region display more intense and longer-lasting smog buildup. Even though the peak pollution spikes are lower this winter due to lesser contribution of farm fires, the airshed is getting increasingly more saturated."

A Decade Of Smog: No Indian Metro Has Breathed Safe Air Since 2015; Experts Weigh In

This isn’t new to experts. As Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director Research and Advocacy, Centre for Science & Environment, points out, “Nowhere in India do we meet the WHO air-quality guideline… anything above that is technically unsafe.” The Indo-Gangetic Plain, she adds, is “a constrained geography with mountains on one side and no sea breeze; pollution here doesn’t just accumulate, it gets trapped.”

Toxic Smog Returns To Delhi As AQI Nears Severe; Cold Wave May Worsen Pollution

Delhi’s air quality sees a sharp deterioration once again on Wednesday, slipping dangerously close to the ‘severe’ category as temperatures continued to fall. As recorded on December 3 at 7 am, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 337, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), placing the national capital firmly in the ‘very poor’ zone. IMD issues cold wave warning starting Friday The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has also issued a forecast warning of a likely cold wave beginning Friday, which may further trap pollutants and worsen smog levels. While the overall AQI remained in the ‘very poor’ range, several monitoring stations recorded alarming ‘severe’ readings. Among the worst-hit locations were RK Puram (420), Rohini (417), Vivek Vihar (415), Bawana (408), Wazirpur (406), Anand Vihar (405), Ashok Vihar (403), and Sonia Vihar (400). The IGI Airport area reported comparatively lower pollution levels, though its AQI of 303 still fell within the ‘very poor’ category. CSE Flags Rising Toxicity Despite Fewer Farm Fires A recent analysis by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) of early winter trends has raised concerns about the rising toxicity of Delhi’s air and the stagnation of long-term air quality improvement. Despite a significantly reduced contribution from stubble burning this season, the city’s pollution levels have persisted at very poor to severe levels. According to the CSE report, this underscores the dominance of local pollution sources particularly vehicular emissions, combustion activities, and industrial pollutants. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director at CSE, noted that Delhi can “no longer hide behind the smokescreen of farm fires,” as the increase in PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and carbon monoxide (CO) points to a dangerous mix of local pollutants creating a “toxic cocktail.” The report also highlighted that pollution levels across the NCR region have become increasingly uniform, with smaller towns experiencing prolonged smog episodes.