SIGN THE CITIZENS' CHARTER TO FIGHT AIR POLLUTION

Even people who do not have asthma can experience respiratory symptoms when pollution levels are high. In some cases, repeated or prolonged exposure may also affect lung function and increase the risk of respiratory and other health problems.

The ranking was led by Bulandshahr, followed by Aligarh and Faridkot, as AQI readings crossed 600 in all 10 cities.

There is no single recovery time for everyone. It depends on how much pollution a person was exposed to and whether the exposure was brief or repeated.

The national capital's AQI was above 600, significantly higher than the readings recorded in Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

Worse than Delhi, Loni is the world's most polluted city. Beyond Diwali, illegal kilns, dust, and toxic waste make every breath a daily battle.

Studies have linked long-term exposure to particulate matter, particularly PM2.5, with changes in brain structure, accelerated brain ageing and a higher risk of dementia.

Residents of flats worth crores say they are paying for clean air themselves, as societies put machines on rooftops and deploy water-sprinkling vehicles on roads.

India pays for toxic air every year, through lost wages, hospital bills and slower growth, writes Dr. Sabine Kapasi.