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Smog Alert: Kids' Sports on Hold in Delhi-NCR
7 Oct
Summary
- Air quality advisory issued for Delhi-NCR schools.
- Poor air quality impacts children's health during exercise.
- Sports events may be rescheduled to safer months.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has recommended that governments in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh cancel school sports activities during November and December due to poor air quality. This advisory, issued on September 10, 2026, stems from concerns about the health impacts of air pollution on children participating in physical activities.
Exercise increases air intake, particularly through the mouth, bypassing natural nasal filtration. This means children running or playing outdoors in smoggy conditions inhale more pollutants, which can travel deeper into their lungs. Research indicates that training and racing in polluted air can lead to slower performance times and may negate the health benefits of exercise.
The CAQM's September 10 advisory also suggested rescheduling competitions to avoid adverse air quality trends and ensuring students are not disadvantaged. This follows a Supreme Court directive in November 2025 that prompted CAQM to advise states to postpone sports events to safer periods. Studies show that even moderate pollution levels can affect athletic performance, and high annual average PM2.5 levels, like Delhi's 97 micrograms per cubic meter in 2025, can diminish exercise's protective health effects.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted that 93% of children globally breathe air exceeding safe pollution levels, linking air pollution to respiratory issues and developmental harm. Children's faster breathing rates and developing bodies make them particularly vulnerable to the cumulative effects of pollutants, which can be exacerbated during strenuous physical activity.
