Delhi air stays 'very poor' at 352 on Sunday morning as several stations turn severe

New Delhi remained wrapped in smog on Sunday morning (November 15). Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) put the capital's overall air quality index (AQI) at 352 in the morning, in the 'very poor' category, while several monitoring stations recorded 'severe' levels, including IIT Delhi at 425, ITO at 415, the Commonwealth Sports Complex at 403, Delhi University's North Campus and Pusa at 402 each, and Burari Crossing at 400.

Stage III curbs in force; vehicles the biggest source

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has enforced Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR since November 6. Real-time source-apportionment estimates identified vehicles as the largest contributor to Delhi's PM2.5 pollution, at about 31.5 percent; biomass burning, including stubble burning and domestic solid biofuel, accounted for about 25.5 percent of PM2.5 between 1 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Saturday's reading was 367; twelve 'very poor' days so far in November

The city's 24-hour average AQI on Saturday (November 14) was 367, marginally lower than Friday's 373, though 17 monitoring stations still recorded severe air quality. So far in November, the city has recorded 12 very poor days and two poor days. The India Meteorological Department has forecast a possibility of very light rain at isolated places on Sunday, but experts said it is unlikely to help; air quality is forecast to remain in the very poor range until Tuesday.

Study links long-term PM2.5 exposure to higher diabetes risk

Separately, a study published in the Journal of Vascular Diseases found that long-term exposure to fine particulate matter is associated with a 10 to 16 percent higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The study was co-authored by Indian diabetes specialist Anoop Misra and colleagues.

Sources: Central Pollution Control Board; ANI; The Hindu BusinessLine.