Delhi's air quality slips back to 'poor'; AQI hits 233, with further deterioration expected

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): After a brief improvement over the past three days, Delhi's air quality slipped back into the 'poor' category on Saturday. The city's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 233 at 4 pm, marking a decline from Friday's 'moderate' reading of 197. The primary pollutants contributing to the poor air quality were PM2.5 and PM10. Levels of PM2.5 stood at 93.2 µg/m³, while PM10 levels were recorded at 185.4 µg/m³ by 2 pm. These fine particulate matter pollutants pose severe health risks, as they can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream.

Out of 38 air quality monitoring stations in Delhi, two reported 'very poor' air quality on Saturday, while 30 stations recorded 'poor' air quality. The remaining stations observed 'moderate' levels, as per data from the Sameer app.

Forecast Predicts Further Deterioration

The Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi indicated that the air quality is likely to remain in the 'poor' category on Sunday and Monday, with a further decline to the 'very poor' category expected by Tuesday.

AQI Classification and DSS Issues

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies AQI levels as follows: 'good' (0–50), 'satisfactory' (51–100), 'moderate' (101–200), 'poor' (201–300), 'very poor' (301–400), and 'severe' (above 400).

Meanwhile, the Decision Support System (DSS), a key tool for assessing pollution sources in Delhi, has not been updated since November 29. An official from the Commission for Air Quality Management stated that the DSS is still under development and has not yet been fully operationalized. "An evaluation committee found discrepancies in the DSS data and its accuracy compared to the terms of reference set for the model. Additionally, some emissions inventory data being used was outdated," the official said on condition of anonymity. The DSS will resume operations once the necessary updates and improvements are completed, the official added.