Surviving Delhi's Toxic Air

Centre plans to clamp down on polluting farm fires by measuring the areas burnt instead of live blazes, after reports that farmers were burning paddy waste or stubble at times when satellites were not passing overhead.

The Central Pollution Control Board has said feasibility of cloud seeding as an emergency measure to battle winter pollution in northern India will be limited, citing insufficient moisture, reliance on pre-existing clouds, an RTI query has revealed.

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai wrote to Chief Secretary Dharmendra on Friday, urging strict enforcement of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address the worsening air quality in the national capital.

Delhi and its adjoining areas are covered in smog and air quality is still in the 'very poor' category. The fourth stage of anti-pollution measures will remain in effect for three days as no sign of relief is expected soon.

With India already being home to the second-largest population of diabetics globally, understanding the role of air pollution in exacerbating this epidemic is critical for effective prevention and public health intervention.

On a good day, such as today, the AQI reading in Delhi is 407. We are jubilant at the sickly sunshine trickling through the slightly dissipated smog. At least its not 1600.

Besides breathing difficulties, other side effects include headache, dizziness, lethargy, irritability in throat, itchy eyes and compromised immune system. Air pollution contributes to everything, from diabetes to dementia, from infertility to malignancy.

GRAP-IV, or the fourth stage of anti-pollution measures in effect for Delhi and the National Capital Region, will remain in force for the next 72 hours, the Supreme Court said Friday, with the AQI in the city and surrounding areas at 371

Air pollutants can lead to weight gain, contribute to rising obesity rates, and also affect hormonal health, warned doctors.

The Delhi air crisis has led to hospitals in the capital seeing an increase in patients with respiratory ailments linked to severe air pollution in the city.