Delhi's air quality worsens in January; NO2, benzene exceed limits
Delhi's air got noticeably worse this January, with key pollutants like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene regularly breaking World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits.
EnviroCatalysts found NO2 levels were above the safe mark for most of the month, and benzene was also at unhealthy highs on nearly as many days.
PM2.5 particles reached unhealthy levels
January's Air Quality Index (AQI) indicated unhealthy conditions. There were only two "moderate" days, while most days ranged from poor to severe.
PM2.5 particles, which are especially harmful, reached unhealthy levels.
Transport main culprit behind pollution
Stations like Wazirpur saw NO2 jump to 135 micrograms per cubic meter—way up from last year.
Carbon monoxide breached Indian standards on three days in January, compared with none during the same period last year, while benzene exceeded WHO guidelines on 24 days this January—fewer than the 28 days last year, though it exceeded the Indian annual standard on one day this January compared with none the previous year.
The main culprit? Transport made up over 15% of Delhi's total pollution in January, raising risks for issues like asthma, heart trouble, and even cancer—especially for people who spend a lot of time outdoors.