Lowest average of pollutants in 7 years in Delhi: Survey

NEW DELHI: The average level of pollutants in Delhi, including (Particulate Matter) PM10, PM2.5 and nitrogen dioxide, are the lowest this year since 2014, according to the Delhi Economic Survey Report. The data also showed that the average level of other pollutants has also decreased significantly in the recent years.

The average annual concentration of PM2.5 has decreased from 149 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 to 101 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020, the report said. These are the fine particulate matter which are three per cent of the diameter of a human hair and can lead to premature deaths and lung diseases. The annuals average of PM10 has also been curbed from 324 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 to 187 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020-21, the report added.

Concentration of PM2.5 levels below 40 micrograms per cubic meter and PM10 with levels below 60 micrograms per cubic meter are considered safe in India. The average concentration of nitrogen dioxide has also been decreased from 82.45 micrograms per cubic meter in 2014 to 40.30 micrograms per cubic meter in 2020-21, according to the report.

However, there was no significant decrease in the annual average of sulphur dioxide between 2014 and 2020 which is emitted during the burning of fossil fuels. The report also added that the annual city average of sulphur dioxide at all the monitoring stations is well within the prescribed limits i.e. 50 micrograms per cubic meter.