Delhi has exceeded the (World Health Organization's) WHO air quality limits within just the first month of 2024, according to a recent study released by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). On January 11 and 17, PM2.5 and PM10 levels in Delhi were found to be above WHO guidelines. Even with substantial reductions in pollution to 0.1 micrograms per cubic meter from those dates forward, Delhi would still fail to meet the WHO's annual air quality standards.

WHO Air Quality Limits
Image Source: the United Nations

The study also noted that Delhi outdid national air quality standards for PM2.5 on May 7 and for PM10 on April 2. The WHO annual limits are set at 5 micrograms per cubic meter for PM2.5 and 15 micrograms per cubic meter for PM10, whereas India's national standards are higher, at 40 and 60 micrograms per cubic meter, respectively.

"Delhi’s ongoing air pollution problem is worrying," remarks Manoj Kumar from CREA. "Our data from 2019 to 2024 shows that the year often begins with Delhi already breaching critical guidelines, which is a troubling trend."

WHO Air Quality Limits
Image Source: The Security and Sustainability Guide

An "overshoot day" refers to a day when pollution levels are so high that even minimal pollution for the remainder of the year would still result in non-compliance with annual standards. The CREA analysis, spanning the past five years, underscored that Delhi's pollution levels have breached limits even before the typically more polluted winter season.

Sunil Dahiya, a South Asia analyst at CREA, stressed the need for more strict regulations and advanced technology to control emissions. “This ongoing issue highlights the need for stronger regulations and a focus on reducing emissions,” he mentioned. Dahiya also pointed out that India’s air quality standards are more lenient compared to WHO guidelines, which can lead to prolonged exposure to harmful particles. He suggested updating air quality standards to align more closely with international guidelines to mitigate health risks.

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