Chinese firecrackers may poison smog-hit Capital further, warn experts

Diwali, the festival of lights, has been increasingly adding toxic smoke to the city’s air in recent years. This year, the pollution could surpass previous levels, experts warn. One reason for this is the burning of leftovers from harvest, widespread construction activity and carbon emissions from outdated trucks and vehicles.

The other reason for the alarming rise in pollution levels is the unregulated sale of Chinese crackers. The fumes, emanating from these crackers, are far more toxic than their Indian counterparts.

Over the past few weeks, the country’s northern belt – Punjab, Haryana, Delhi and Chandigarh – have witnessed hazy skies owing to the acres of crop leftovers set ablaze.

According to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the PM2.5 (particulate matter) level, which is a measure of pollution in the air, stands at 222.87 units (recorded around the Indira Gandhi International Airport), against the standard prescribed 60 units. The units are nearly four times the permissible safe limit.

The System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) of the Ministry of Earth Sciences prescribes the PM 2.5 level – Particulate Matter with a diameter smaller than 2 1/2 microns, where a micron is one millionth of a meter.

The nano-particles suspended in the air in the range of 0-100 is safe, while those above 100 fall under the unhealthy “poor” air quality level.

SAFAR also predicted that the levels after Diwali could reach as high as 429 units of PM 2.5, reaching the absolute “critical” levels of pollution.

According to SAFAR: “This Diwali is going to be colder compared to the previous year. There is enough moisture in the air and the atmosphere’s capacity to hold pollutants is quite high.”