Assessing AQI of air pollution crisis 2024 in Delhi: its health risks and nationwide impact
Abhranil Bhuyan, Tapoban Bordoloi, Rabin Debnath, Abu Md Ashif Ikbal, Bikash Debnath, Waikhom Somraj Singh
Abstract
Air pollution is a broad concern around the world due to its severe impacts on health as well as on the environment. In India, Delhi's growing air pollution has attained dangerous levels in 2024, ranking it among the world's most polluted cities. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) regularly falls into the "severe" or "hazardous" categories, worsened by industrial pollutants, landfills, deforestation, urbanization, industrial expansion, improper waste management, traffic pollution, smoking, construction dust, and seasonal stubble combustion. The health impacts are extreme, ranging from respiratory disorders like asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) to developmental problems in children, immune disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Efforts such as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), electric vehicle upgrade, enforcing pollution control and reducing air pollution, scrapping 15-year-old vehicles, and firework restrictions illustrate the government's response, yet implementation problems still exist. Seasonal smog intensifies over the winter. AQI regularly exceeds 400 in winter, resulting in a public health emergency. This comprises more rigid enforcement of pollution control legislation and policy, boosting renewable energy, and adopting sustainable agriculture methods to reduce stubble burning. Public awareness initiatives and inter-state collaboration will also be essential components. Strengthened international responsibilities under frameworks such as the Conference of the Parties 28th meeting (COP28), United Arab Emirates (UAE) declaration, can link Delhi's pollution reduction initiatives with global climate goals. Addressing these difficulties is critical to protecting public health, ensuring economic productivity, and improving the quality of life in the National Capital Region.