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Delhi's Air Cleans Up: Lowest Oct AQI Ever!
30 Oct
Summary
- Delhi recorded its lowest October average AQI of 168 ever.
- Excess rainfall and a late Diwali contributed to the air quality improvement.
- Despite improvements, PM2.5 and PM10 levels still exceed national standards.
This October, Delhi experienced its cleanest air in years, with an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 168, marking a record low for the month. Previous years consistently saw AQI readings above 200. The improvement is largely due to a confluence of favorable factors, including excess rainfall and the timing of Diwali.
Excess rainfall significantly scrubbed particulates from the air and aided dispersion, minimizing the impact of regional stubble burning. Additionally, Diwali's firecracker emissions did not affect October's air quality this year. While this offers welcome relief, experts note the improvement is primarily meteorology-driven.
Despite the record low AQI, average PM2.5 and PM10 levels are still higher than national standards. PM2.5 concentration stood at 70.5 micrograms per cubic meter, exceeding the daily national standard of 60, and is 4.7 times the WHO's daily safe limit. PM10 reached 175.8 micrograms per cubic meter, surpassing the national standard of 100.
As winter approaches, with dropping temperatures and atmospheric inversion, authorities will need to implement rigorous ground-level actions. These must focus on controlling emissions from transport, waste burning, and industrial sources to maintain air quality.
