Delhi is back to breathing toxic air with the capital's air quality index in the severe category and concentration of the fine, cancer-causing pollutant spiking to emergency levels. The PM 2.5 pollutant, which penetrates the lungs and causes chronic respiratory illnesses, is nearly 100 times the safe limit set by World Health Organisation. Long-term exposure to this micro-pollutant can even cause lung cancer. This comes just two days after curbs imposed in Delhi-NCR to tackle the pollution levels were lifted following improvement in the air. Given that air pollution is likely to worsen in the coming days, restrictions are back in place in the national capital. Vedanta reports from Anand Vihar in New Delhi.
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To curb rising pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had already invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region and adjoining areas on November 6.
The Commonwealth Sports Complex recorded an AQI of 403, while Delhi University's North Campus and Pusa both reported readings of 402.
Delhi topped the list with 8,093 pollution-linked cases, ahead of Pune, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Hyderabad. Heart disease led at 43.5%, followed by other respiratory illness.
Air purifiers help improve indoor air, a nutritionist shared four food habits that help the body deal with the effects of PM2.5 pollution.
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