Panel Disscussion over Delhi air Pollution and Corona cases
Avikal Somvanshi,Pragramme Manager clean air Campagian, Panel Disscussion over Delhi air Pollution and Corona cases.
Avikal Somvanshi,Pragramme Manager clean air Campagian, Panel Disscussion over Delhi air Pollution and Corona cases.
Avikal Somvanshi Panel discussion over Delhi pollution
Avikal Somvanshi,Pragramme Manager clean air Campagian, Panel Disscussion over Delhi air Pollution and Corona cases.
Avikal Somvanshi, Pragramme Manager clean air Campagian, Panel Disscussion over Delhi air Pollution and Corona cases.
New Delhi faisait face jeudi à un pic des contaminations au coronavirus conjugué à la pire pollution depuis un an qui accroît les risques de la pandémie, a averti le chef de l’exécutif local, Arvind Kejriwal, annonçant l’interdiction des feux d’artifices pour Diwali, la fête hindoue des lumières mi-novembre. “Delhi est actuellement sous le choc à la fois du corona(virus) et de la pollution”, a déclaré le ministre en chef de Delhi lors d’un briefing en ligne, “la situation du corona(virus) s’aggrave à cause de la pollution”. Il a précisé que les feux d’artifice traditionnels, qui contribuent à dégrader la qualité de l’air, seraient interdits pour Diwali, la principale fête hindoue prévue cette année le 14 novembre. L’indice de la qualité de l’air dans la capitale était le pire depuis novembre dernier, selon le service public SAFAR (System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research). Jeudi, la concentration de particules fines PM2,5 s’établissait en moyenne journalière à 242,1 microgrammes par mètre cube d’air, selon les mesures de l’ambassade américaine. L’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) recommande de ne pas dépasser une concentration de 25 en moyenne journalière. Chaque début d’hiver, un épais brouillard de pollution enveloppe New Delhi et ses 20 millions d’habitants en raison du mélange de fumées venues des brûlages agricoles alentour, gaz d’échappement et émissions industrielles, piégé au dessus de la ville par les températures plus fraîches et des vents faibles. Mais il a coïncidé mercredi soir avec l’annonce d’un nouveau record quotidien de contaminations au coronavirus dans la capitale (6.852 cas). L’Inde est le deuxième pays au monde en nombre d’infections derrière les Etats-Unis avec plus de 8,3 millions de cas. Le système de santé qui doit déjà faire face à la pandémie pourrait subir des tensions accrues avec la pollution qui risque, selon les experts, d’aggraver des maladies non transmissibles qui accroissent les dangers du Covid-19. “Les médecins ont averti que des poumons abîmés auront plus de mal à combattre le virus”, explique à l’AFP Anumita Roy Chowdhury du Centre for Science and Environment, un think-tank spécialisé de New Delhi. “Certaines études internationales ont déjà montré que l’effet de la pandémie est plus fort dans les régions plus polluées”. Des recherches ont indiqué que “l’exposition à la pollution peut accroître la sévérité de l’infection et la transmission du virus”, renchérit And Santosh Harish du Center for Policy Research de New Delhi. M. Kejriwal a dénoncé le rôle des brûlages agricoles dans la pollution, estimant que les gouvernements des Etats voisins n’aidaient pas les paysans à trouver des alternatives. Le SAFAR estimait jeudi les brûlages autour de la capitale au plus haut cette saison avec quelque 4.135 feux.
New Delhi faisait face jeudi à un pic des contaminations au coronavirus conjugué à la pire pollution depuis un an qui accroît les risques de la pandémie, a averti le chef de l’exécutif local, Arvind Kejriwal, annonçant l’interdiction des feux d’artifice pour Diwali, la fête hindoue des lumières mi-novembre. «Delhi est actuellement sous le choc à la fois du corona(virus) et de la pollution», a déclaré le ministre en chef de Delhi lors d’un briefing en ligne, «la situation du corona(virus) s’aggrave à cause de la pollution». Il a précisé que les feux d’artifice traditionnels, qui contribuent à dégrader la qualité de l’air, seraient interdits pour Diwali, la principale fête hindoue prévue cette année le 14 novembre. L’indice de la qualité de l’air dans la capitale était le pire depuis novembre dernier, selon le service public SAFAR (System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research). Record quotidien de contaminations Jeudi, la concentration de particules fines PM2,5 s’établissait en moyenne journalière à 242,1 microgrammes par mètre cube d’air, selon les mesures de l’ambassade américaine. L’Organisation mondiale de la santé (OMS) recommande de ne pas dépasser une concentration de 25 en moyenne journalière. Chaque début d’hiver, un épais brouillard de pollution enveloppe New Delhi et ses 20 millions d’habitants en raison du mélange de fumées venues des brûlages agricoles alentour, gaz d’échappement et émissions industrielles, piégé au dessus de la ville par les températures plus fraîches et des vents faibles. Mais il a coïncidé mercredi soir avec l’annonce d’un nouveau record quotidien de contaminations au coronavirus dans la capitale (6852 cas). Virus plus dangereux L’Inde est le deuxième pays au monde en nombre d’infections derrière les États-Unis avec plus de 8,3 millions de cas. Le système de santé qui doit déjà faire face à la pandémie pourrait subir des tensions accrues avec la pollution qui risque, selon les experts, d’aggraver des maladies non transmissibles qui accroissent les dangers du Covid-19. «Les médecins ont averti que des poumons abîmés auront plus de mal à combattre le virus», explique à l’AFP Anumita Roy Chowdhury du Centre for Science and Environment, un think-tank spécialisé de New Delhi. «Certaines études internationales ont déjà montré que l’effet de la pandémie est plus fort dans les régions plus polluées». Des recherches ont indiqué que «l’exposition à la pollution peut accroître la sévérité de l’infection et la transmission du virus», renchérit And Santosh Harish du Center for Policy Research de New Delhi. Arvind Kejriwal a dénoncé le rôle des brûlages agricoles dans la pollution, estimant que les gouvernements des États voisins n’aidaient pas les paysans à trouver des alternatives. Le SAFAR estimait jeudi les brûlages autour de la capitale au plus haut cette saison avec quelque 4 135 feux.
New Delhi: The national capital is reeling from the double impact of the coronavirus and severe air pollution, New Delhi's Chief Minister warned Thursday, as the megacity reported a record jump in cases and its worst smog in a year. With fears growing about rising infections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also banned firecrackers from being used this month during Diwali, the biggest festival on the Hindu calendar. The air quality index -- measuring the tiny particles which enter the bloodstream and vital organs -- was at its most dangerous since last November, according to the state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The toxic haze blanketing Delhi, which regularly turns the city of 20 million people into the world's most-polluted, came as officials late Wednesday reported a new daily-high of 6,842 virus infections in the capital. And the filthy air is actually driving more cases of Covid-19, Kejriwal told an online briefing. "The corona situation is worsening because of pollution," he said, echoing medical analysis which says existing illnesses caused by poor air quality could make people more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, told AFP: "Some global studies have already shown how the effect of the pandemic is higher in more polluted regions." And Santosh Harish, at the Delhi-based Center for Policy Research, said: "Evidence from previous related infections and emerging research suggest that pollution exposure could increase severity of the infection, and the transmission of the virus." More crop burning Mr Kejriwal blamed the choking smoke on agricultural burning, saying regional state governments were not helping farmers to find alternative ways to clear their fields. "We will come together to celebrate Diwali without crackers. If we burst crackers, we are affecting the lives of our family and our children," he added. The cracker frenzy usually turns Delhi's grey winter skies into a putrid yellow. Every winter, Delhi is blanketed by haze from a build-up of vehicle fumes, industrial emissions and smoke from agricultural fires in regions around the capital. The pollution is exacerbated by cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds that trap pollutants over the city. SAFAR said Thursday that crop stubble burning in states near the capital was the highest this season with some 4,135 fires.
With the onset of winters, Delhi's battle with poisonous air has also started and Wednesday's hazardous condition proves the same. As per reports, the PM2.5 concentration reached ten times more than what is prescribed as safe. The Air Quality Index (AQI) also went from "poor" to "very poor" within a few hours and was recorded at 343 by 4 pm. "Stubble burning comes and goes, local actions must be strengthened" Anumita Roy Chowdhury, the executive director at Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), asserted that local pollutants must be controlled since they get trapped in adverse weather conditions.
Der Smog und ein Rekordanstieg der Corona-Neuinfektionen machen Indiens Hauptstadt Neu Delhi immer stärker zu schaffen. Zwischen beiden Ereignissen gebe es einen Zusammenhang, sagte der Regierungschef der Region Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, am Donnerstag. „Die CoronaSituation verschlimmert sich wegen der Luftverschmutzung.“ Die Behörden untersagten derweil in der Hauptstadt den Gebrauch von Feuerwerkskörpern beim Diwali-Fest, der wichtigsten religiösen Feier des Landes. „Wir werden zusammenkommen, um Diwali ohne Knaller zu feiern. Wenn wir Knaller zum Platzen bringen, beeinträchtigen wir das Leben unserer Familie und unserer Kinder“, sagte der Regierungschef bei einer OnlineÜbertragung. In Indien findet das DiwaliFest am 14. November statt. Von einem Zusammenhang zwischen der Luftverschmutzung und der Corona-Krise im Land geht auch Anumita Roy Chowdhury vom in Delhi ansässigen Zentrum für Wissenschaft und Umwelt aus. „Einige globale Studien haben bereits gezeigt, dass die Auswirkungen der Pandemie in stärker verschmutzten Regionen höher sind“, sagte Chowdhury.
This article was published in thejakartapost.com with the title "Delhi battling dual crises of pollution and coronavirus India's capital is reeling from the double impact of the coronavirus and severe air pollution, New Delhi's chief minister warned Thursday, as the megacity reported a record jump in cases and its worst smog in a year. With fears growing about rising infections, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also banned firecrackers from being used this month during Diwali, the biggest festival on the Hindu calendar. The air quality index - measuring the tiny particles which enter the bloodstream and vital organs - was at its most dangerous since last November, according to the state-run System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The toxic haze blanketing Delhi, which regularly turns the city of 20 million people into the world's most-polluted, came as officials late Wednesday reported a new daily-high of 6,842 virus infections in the capital. And the filthy air is actually driving more cases of COVID-19, Kejriwal told an online briefing. "The corona situation is worsening because of pollution," he said, echoing medical analysis which says existing illnesses caused by poor air quality could make people more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, of the Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment, told AFP: "Some global studies have already shown how the effect of the pandemic is higher in more polluted regions." And Santosh Harish, at the Delhi-based Center for Policy Research, said: "Evidence from previous related infections and emerging research suggest that pollution exposure could increase severity of the infection, and the transmission of the virus." Kejriwal blamed the choking smoke on agricultural burning, saying regional state governments were not helping farmers to find alternative ways to clear their fields. "We will come together to celebrate Diwali without crackers. If we burst crackers, we are affecting the lives of our family and our children," he added. The cracker frenzy usually turns Delhi's grey winter skies into a putrid yellow. Every winter, Delhi is blanketed by haze from a build-up of vehicle fumes, industrial emissions and smoke from agricultural fires in regions around the capital. The pollution is exacerbated by cooler temperatures and slow-moving winds that trap pollutants over the city. SAFAR said Thursday that crop stubble burning in states near the capital was the highest this season with some 4,135 fires. India is the world's second most-infected nation after the United States with more than 8.3 million COVID-19 cases. Healthcare systems, already stretched by the pandemic, could be further stressed by more hospitalizations from pollution-related illnesses, researchers say.
New Delhi: The national capital has been struggling with 'very poor' air quality due to the high concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants. On Thursday, the air quality index (AQI) of Delhi docked at 333, which falls in the 'very poor' category. On Wednesday, a thick haze covered Delhi, reducing visibility to as low as 600 metres. In areas like Safdarjung, PM2.5 pollutants rose up 10 times over the standard level by the afternoon and the haze thickened. A similar trend was observed in the overall AQI of the national capital where air pollution increased during the day with the AQI reaching 343. Experts revealed that the spike in air pollution and thick haze were observed in the national capital due to several factors. From low wind speed to low temperatures, multiple factors adversely affected the air quality of Delhi. Stubble burning not a factor Stubble burning, which is often blamed for the poor air quality of Delhi in winters, was not a reason that played a part in the spike. As per System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the share of stubble burning reduced to 5 per cent on Wednesday due to a change in the direction of wind. Kuldeep Srivastava, a scientist at India Meteorological Department told The Times of India that pollutants could not disperse on Wednesday as the speed of the wind was below 5 km/hr. He added that another factor that led to a spike in pollution was the low temperature. Low temperature also reduces the speed of dispersion. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said, "The contribution of stubble burning to Delhi's air was reduced to only 5 per cent but the adverse weather conditions led to trapping of local pollutants. It shows why we must have stringent control on local pollutants."
NEW DELHI: A thick haze engulfed the city within a matter of hours on Wednesday afternoon, with visibility dropping considerably. It fell to as low as 600 metres at Safdarjung as air pollution levels shot up to around 10 times the standard for PM 2.5 concentration by 3 pm. Track the pollution level in your city Delhi’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI), measured over a 24-hour period, also shot up sharply during the day, deteriorating from the ‘poor’ category in the morning to the ‘very poor’ category at 343 by 4 pm. The city is likely to witness further deterioration in the AQI over the next 24 hours and it may even touch ‘severe’, according to officials. Times View Smog enveloped Delhi in an apocalyptic shroud on Wednesday. In this backdrop, the ordinance brought by the Centre to tackle air pollution late last month is timely. But intention always needs to be backed by a commitment of purpose and action. The Centre must walk the talk, and fast. A Dim View Of Things In Delhi Visibility as low as 600 metres at safdarjung; air quality may dip further in next 48 hours According to experts, a mix of factors, such as low wind speed, a low mixing height and low temperatures, which have been prevailing in the region over the past 48 hours, led to stagnant conditions with the wind speed remaining below 5 km/hr for several hours. However, stubble burning did not contribute to this episodic event with SAFAR, a central government agency, pegging the contribution of farm fires to Delhi’s air at just 5%, owing to a change in wind direction. The IMD has also warned of moderate fog on Thursday morning due to these prevailing ‘calm’ conditions Kuldeep Srivastava, scientist at India Meteorological Department, said: “Calm wind conditions prevailed on Tuesday night, and even during the day on Wednesday, the wind speed was below 5 km/hr, making it tough for pollutants to disperse. Besides this, the minimum temperature has been hovering around 10 degrees Celsius for the past two days. A low temperature slows down dispersion of pollutants.” He added that as the wind direction changed to westerly on Wednesday morning, there was minimum transfer of pollutants from Punjab and Haryana. According to IMD, the visibility dropped to its lowest at 600 metres at Safdarjung station while it was 800 metres at Palam from 3pm to 5pm on Wednesday. On Thursday, the minimum temperature stood at 10.6 degrees Celsius, four notches below normal, while the maximum temperature was 28 degrees Celsius, two degrees below normal. The season’s lowest minimum temperature was recorded at 10 degrees Celsius, five notches below normal, on Tuesday. Anumita Roy Chowdhury, executive director, research and advocacy, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), said: “The contribution of stubble to Delhi’s air was reduced to only 5% but the adverse weather conditions led to trapping of local pollutants. It shows why we must have stringent control on local pollutants. Stubble is variable as it comes and goes. However, continuous pollution happening inside the city makes Delhi hugely vulnerable when the weather turns adverse like Wednesday when the wind dissipated and couldn’t blow away the pollutants. This shows that we have to strengthen our local action.”
Anumita Roy Chowdhury, Executive Director, CSE speak over Air Pollution.
Anumita Roy Chowdhury speaks on Pollution spikes in Delhi.
Environment minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday kick-started the Delhi government’s anti-cracker campaign, urging people to avoid fireworks on Diwali, or to at least to ensure they buy only the ‘green’, low-emission varieties, in an attempt to cut down on air pollution, which is a bigger concern this year due to the Covid-19 crisis. As part of the campaign, Rai visited Sadar Bazar, one of Delhi’s biggest wholesale firecracker markets, for an inspection and to ensure only green crackers are sold. Diwali this year will be celebrated on November 14. Every year, pollution levels see a major spike after the festival as people openly burst firecrackers. Under this campaign, 11 teams of the Delhi Pollution Control Committee have been directed to ensure no traditional, polluting crackers are used or sold. Apart from these teams, Delhi Police personnel and sub-divisional magistrates of all districts will inspect markets to ensure old stocks of traditional varieties are not sold clandestinely. “According to directions of the Supreme Court, polluting crackers have been banned in Delhi and only pollution-free green crackers have been allowed this year. The teams will ensure only the less-polluting varieties of crackers are sold. I would also like to request Delhiites to avoid bursting crackers, as much as possible,” said Rai.
The combination of deadly dust and smoke released by fireworks is extremely harmful to those suffering from Covid or have recovered from the disease, doctors and environmentalists say. The effect of the toxic particulates and fume will be many times more this Diwali because it falls on November 14. The cool mid-November air, environmentalists say, will trap the pollutants close to the ground for long. Metro spoke to experts to assess the impending danger. How do fireworks add to air pollution? The major gases released by fireworks are sulphur dioxide, various oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. All of them pollute the air we breathe. “Oxides and compounds of many toxic heavy metals like copper, vanadium, cobalt, iron, cadmium and aluminum, released by fireworks, become part of particulate composition, both PM10 and PM2.5, in the air,” said Siddhartha Datta, a retired professor of chemical engineering at Jadavpur University. PM10 and PM2.5 are fine particulates that enter deep into the lungs and trigger a host of critical ailments, including cancer. How can a late Diwali add to the problem? Diwali this year will be celebrated long after the withdrawal of the monsoon. The withdrawal facilitates the arrival of the northwesterly wind. “Compared with Diwali in October, a mid-November Diwali will definitely be drier and cooler unless a major weather system develops in between,” said G.K. Das, regional director of IMD Calcutta. A drop in temperature will lead to a phenomenon called thermal inversion, which will cause pollutant-rich cool air to remain close to the surface. “Such a trend, coupled with near-stagnant air as found during the period, leads to a situation where most of us will be forced to remain in a highly polluted air bubble. Burning of fireworks enhances the toxicity of such a bubble,” said Datta. Such polluting columns, he said, may grow to about 60 feet. How enhanced air pollution will impact Covid patients? “While sulphur dioxide directly irritates the respiratory system, oxides of nitrogen increase oxidative stress and affect the protective mucosal layer of the lungs, magnifying the risk of attack from viruses like SARS-CoV-2,” said pulmonologist Arup Haldar. “Enhanced pollution is deadly not only for Covid patients, whose lungs are compromised, but also those who have recovered from the disease,” said pulmonologist Alok Gopal Ghosal. Ghosal pointed out that Covid patients, after being cured of infection, are taking long to recover from respiratory ailments. Exposure to increased pollution will only worsen the situation.“Even without Covid, according to the latest global report, almost one out of every four global air pollution deaths occurs in India. The Diwali pollution during the pandemic will add to the vulnerability,” said Anumita Roy Choudhury, an air pollution expert from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE). Who are the most vulnerable? Just about anyone. Covid patients and those who have recovered from the coronavirus disease are more vulnerable. It would be worse for the elderly.