<p>The air quality of Delhi remained 'poor' on Sunday with the overall <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-air-quality-remains-in-poor-category-aqi-likely-to-deteriorate-tomorrow-265679">Air Quality Index</a> (AQI) recorded at 211, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).</p>

<p>According to the data compiled by SAFAR, major pollutants i.e. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-air-quality-takes-a-hit-particulate-matter-level-shoots-up-255194">Particulate Matter</a> (PM) 2.5 was at 136 and PM 10 at 94, both in the 'poor' category in the capital area at 10:30 in the morning.</p>

<p>An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 is marked as severe/hazardous.</p>

<p>The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/air-quality-improves-slightly-in-delhi-safar-says-relief-temporary-263072">SAFAR</a> has advised 'sensitive groups' to avoid all outdoor physical activities.</p>

<p>"People are advised to stop outdoor activity in the early morning and after sunset times and avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Go for a short walk instead of a jog and take more breaks. Stop any activity level if you experience any unusual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue. If the room has windows, close them," it stated in its advisory.</p>


The air quality of Delhi remained 'poor' on Sunday with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 211, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The air quality of Delhi remained 'poor' on Sunday with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 211, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). According to the data compiled by SAFAR, major pollutants i.e. Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 was at 136 and PM 10 at 94, both in the 'poor' category in the capital area at 10:30 in the morning. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 is marked as severe/hazardous. The SAFAR has advised 'sensitive groups' to avoid all outdoor physical activities. "People are advised to stop outdoor activity in the early morning and after sunset times and avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Go for a short walk instead of a jog and take more breaks. Stop any activity level if you experience any unusual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue. If the room has windows, close them," it stated in its advisory.

Air quality remains 'poor' in Delhi

The government of Delhi distributed anti-pollution masks to school children on Friday (November 01) as most desperate measures to curb Indian capital city's deteriorating air quality failed.

Delhi government distributes masks to children as air quality worsens

Launched by IIT-Delhi alumni, Nanoclean Global Pvt Ltd is an Indian start-up, providing low-cost solutions to tackle air pollution. It had won the prestigious Startup National Award for their effort. #WorldEnvironmentDay #BeatAirPollution #IIT

World Environment Day: IIT-Delhi alumni's low-cost solution to beat air pollution

<p>Political apathy over the poisonous smog choking India&#39;s capital has led many like businessman Kamal Meattle to take matters into their own hands, with an office building he says pumps air as fresh as from the Swiss Alps.</p>

<p>From the outside, the Paharpur Business Centre looks like any modern office block. But inside it is a virtual jungle where rooms and corridors are lined with more than 7,000 potted plants and creepers.</p>

<p>The greenhouse terrace, with artificial grass and green walls, houses an &quot;air washing&quot; system that moves polluted outside air through a series of cleaning filters.</p>

<p>It is then pushed through the greenhouse where the plants remove bacteria, fungus, carbon dioxide and other toxins, before the air conditioning pumps it to workers on the floors below.</p>

<p>&quot;It would be like working in Gulmarg in Kashmir or Davos in Switzerland in this building,&quot; 73-year-old Meattle said as he looked out at the smog from the protection of the lush rooftop nursery.</p>

<p>&quot;You are actually right now sitting in an air tank,&quot; he said, referring to the greenhouse where PM2.5 - the most harmful particulates in the air - registered nearly zero compared with 415 outside, according to Paharpur&#39;s monitoring system.</p>

<p>The outside level is more than 16 times the World Health Organization&#39;s safe limit.</p>

<p><strong>&#39;I wanted a solution&#39;</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/greenhouse-billiards-20180109060640.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Employees play at the green house-come-cafeteria at the Paharpur Business Centre in New Delhi. (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>A Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate and trustee of Al Gore&#39;s Climate Reality Project, Meattle began thinking about a clean office project years ago when he rejected doctors&#39; advice to move away from the polluted capital for his health.</p>

<p>&quot;I wanted a solution for myself and I didn&#39;t want to leave Delhi,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>His centre, whose tenants include Amazon, Samsung and Microsoft, is now rated the city&#39;s healthiest building by the Indian government, and Meattle says people who work there benefit from improved blood oxygen levels, better brain function, and fewer asthma and eye irritation cases.</p>

<p>Delhi chokes every winter as cool air traps a toxic blend of pollutants from crop burning, car exhausts, open fires, construction dust and industrial emissions close to the ground.</p>

<p>The annual scourge has been particularly bad this season, and short-term measures -- such as shutting factories and restricting car use - have failed to have a significant impact.</p>

<p>In November, doctors declared a public health emergency and schools were shut across the capital.</p>

<p>Fumes from backup generators are a central ingredient in the noxious cocktail, but one company is turning them into ink and paint with technology that can capture up to 90 percent of dangerous pollutants.</p>

<p>Chakr Innovations, started by graduates from the Indian Institute of Technology, has capitalised on the smoke-belching machines that can be heard across the city.</p>

<p><strong>Black is the new green</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false"><img alt="" draggable="false" src="http://s.wionews.com/photos/beanbags-20180109060942.jpg" />
<div class="media-description">
<p>Beanbags used by Indian employees are pictured in the greenhouse cafeteria at the Paharpur Business Centre in New Delhi. (AFP)</p>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="javascript:void(0)" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Its Chakr Shield is fitted to generators and converts carbon and other fine particles, including the most harmful PM0.3 and PM2.5 specks, into liquified soot through chemical and heat-exchanging processes.</p>

<p>The captured carbon is washed down with a solvent and processed into ink pigment and paints.</p>

<p>&quot;What would have otherwise been a waste is captured and reborn to be used as a raw material again,&quot; said co-founder Arpit Dhupar, donning a t-shirt that says &quot;black is the new green&quot;.</p>

<p>Dhupar was inspired by seeing a diesel generator that was running a roadside sugarcane juice stall and turning the wall behind it black in the process.</p>

<p>Chakr has fitted machines at more than 18 Delhi offices, and 30 other companies have signed up for the technology, including US giant Dell Computers, which will be using Chakr&#39;s ink for printing on its cardboard boxes.</p>

<p>Dhupar said that in 18 months, the machines had collected enough carbon to pollute about 1.5 billion litres of air.</p>

<p>&quot;We are running out of clean, breathable air in Delhi and our definitive objective is to make the access to clean air a basic right for everyone,&quot; he said.</p>

<p>Others want to ensure that right extends to animals, including the high-performance ponies that compete on Delhi&#39;s thriving polo circuit.</p>

<p>The Army Polo and Riding Club recently ruled that horses used by the Delhi Army polo team must be allowed twice as many breaks to alleviate the physical stress of playing matches in toxic conditions.</p>

<p>&quot;By sheer logic and the levels of pollution that were there in Delhi we thought that it may cause a problem. The longer the pony plays, the exhaustion is that much higher,&quot; said the club&#39;s chief executive, Colonel Ravi Rathore.</p>


The level of PM2.5 - the most harmful particulates in the air - registered nearly zero inside the Paharpur Business Centre compared with 415 outside.

Political apathy over the poisonous smog choking India's capital has led many like businessman Kamal Meattle to take matters into their own hands, with an office building he says pumps air as fresh as from the Swiss Alps. From the outside, the Paharpur Business Centre looks like any modern office block. But inside it is a virtual jungle where rooms and corridors are lined with more than 7,000 potted plants and creepers. The greenhouse terrace, with artificial grass and green walls, houses an "air washing" system that moves polluted outside air through a series of cleaning filters. It is then pushed through the greenhouse where the plants remove bacteria, fungus, carbon dioxide and other toxins, before the air conditioning pumps it to workers on the floors below. "It would be like working in Gulmarg in Kashmir or Davos in Switzerland in this building," 73-year-old Meattle said as he looked out at the smog from the protection of the lush rooftop nursery. "You are actually right now sitting in an air tank," he said, referring to the greenhouse where PM2.5 - the most harmful particulates in the air - registered nearly zero compared with 415 outside, according to Paharpur's monitoring system. The outside level is more than 16 times the World Health Organization's safe limit. 'I wanted a solution' Employees play at the green house-come-cafeteria at the Paharpur Business Centre in New Delhi. (AFP) × A Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate and trustee of Al Gore's Climate Reality Project, Meattle began thinking about a clean office project years ago when he rejected doctors' advice to move away from the polluted capital for his health. "I wanted a solution for myself and I didn't want to leave Delhi," he said. His centre, whose tenants include Amazon, Samsung and Microsoft, is now rated the city's healthiest building by the Indian government, and Meattle says people who work there benefit from improved blood oxygen levels, better brain function, and fewer asthma and eye irritation cases. Delhi chokes every winter as cool air traps a toxic blend of pollutants from crop burning, car exhausts, open fires, construction dust and industrial emissions close to the ground. The annual scourge has been particularly bad this season, and short-term measures -- such as shutting factories and restricting car use - have failed to have a significant impact. In November, doctors declared a public health emergency and schools were shut across the capital. Fumes from backup generators are a central ingredient in the noxious cocktail, but one company is turning them into ink and paint with technology that can capture up to 90 percent of dangerous pollutants. Chakr Innovations, started by graduates from the Indian Institute of Technology, has capitalised on the smoke-belching machines that can be heard across the city. Black is the new green Beanbags used by Indian employees are pictured in the greenhouse cafeteria at the Paharpur Business Centre in New Delhi. (AFP) × Its Chakr Shield is fitted to generators and converts carbon and other fine particles, including the most harmful PM0.3 and PM2.5 specks, into liquified soot through chemical and heat-exchanging processes. The captured carbon is washed down with a solvent and processed into ink pigment and paints. "What would have otherwise been a waste is captured and reborn to be used as a raw material again," said co-founder Arpit Dhupar, donning a t-shirt that says "black is the new green". Dhupar was inspired by seeing a diesel generator that was running a roadside sugarcane juice stall and turning the wall behind it black in the process. Chakr has fitted machines at more than 18 Delhi offices, and 30 other companies have signed up for the technology, including US giant Dell Computers, which will be using Chakr's ink for printing on its cardboard boxes. Dhupar said that in 18 months, the machines had collected enough carbon to pollute about 1.5 billion litres of air. "We are running out of clean, breathable air in Delhi and our definitive objective is to make the access to clean air a basic right for everyone," he said. Others want to ensure that right extends to animals, including the high-performance ponies that compete on Delhi's thriving polo circuit. The Army Polo and Riding Club recently ruled that horses used by the Delhi Army polo team must be allowed twice as many breaks to alleviate the physical stress of playing matches in toxic conditions. "By sheer logic and the levels of pollution that were there in Delhi we thought that it may cause a problem. The longer the pony plays, the exhaustion is that much higher," said the club's chief executive, Colonel Ravi Rathore.

'It's like working in Switzerland': Inside Delhi's healthiest building

<p>Hypothetically, time travels in my head, always take me to an imaginary window, through which I can see lush green trees across the street. Maybe after a cup of tea, practise yoga, inhaling the fresh air and while travelling to another place, cross a fresh stream or any water body that is responsible for providing drinking water to the city. Time and space window shopping, is a few minute luxury, always failing to the gravity of reality.</p>

<p>The alarming deterioration of air quality in and around my city, especially this time of the year always attracts multiple reports from various angles, parallel planes with other issues, and studio debates on the white smog. While all this goes on, we still breathe. We breathe the analogies, theoretical solutions, and short-term bans. All the while still choking on a constant deteriorating air of the National Capital Region and then like any particulate matter which cannot be seen, yet harmful for lungs as it can be absorbed by the body, we settle down at a corner away from the action.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>Prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p><strong>Bad air, bad blood</strong></p>

<p>Various scientific studies prove that prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event.</p>

<p>Both gaseous air pollutants (ie, ozone, sulphur and nitric oxides, carbon monoxide) and particulate matter (pm) cause adverse effects on health. However, the most serious effects are related to the particulate matter.</p>

<p>When we inhale polluted air with high levels of pm 2.5, due to their characteristic small size it penetrates beyond the upper respiratory tract into alveoli of the lungs, and from there enter into the circulation system.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p>These particulate matters also consist of many toxic substances (eg: metals) which leads to oxidative stress, i.e. impaired performance of cells caused by the presence of too many oxygen molecules in them and fibrinolysis, a process which prevents blood clots formation.</p>

<p>Few other toxins lead to blood clot formation in the arteries, thus considerably increasing the chances of a heart stroke. The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths.</p>

<p><strong>The saga of an outsider: particulate matter</strong></p>

<p>The human immune system consists of many policemen known as the antibodies, their job is to check any infiltration of foreign bodies called antigen. In case they identify such antigen, pass the intelligence information to all the other forces (enzymes and other immune bodies).</p>

<p>Their job is to surround the foreign body and start killing it. Such intra body war-like scenario often gives out silent signals like itching and reddening of the area.</p>

<p>When a similar heightened process occurs in lungs due to the particulate matter, a foreign body settling in alveoli, the muscles in the airways of the lungs constrict, as a result the person find difficulty in breathing.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="row">
<div class="article-blockquote">
<div class="col-sm-10 col-sm-offset-1 blockquote-content quoteshare">
<blockquote>
<h5>India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases COPD and asthma.</h5>
</blockquote>
</div>

<div class="col-sm-1 blockquote-content">
<div class="share-blockquote"><a class="twitter popup" href="http://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases COPD and asthma." target="_blank"><i class="fa fa-share">&nbsp;</i></a></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqquoteclosemark">&times;</a></div>
</div>
</div>

<p><strong>The facts</strong></p>

<p>According to a recent survey: 35 per cent kids from Indian metro cities have asthma, whereas, about 22 million Americans have asthma. There are 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, in every 10 seconds, someone is having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack in the UK.</p>

<p>India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma, according to the latest global burden of disease study.</p>

<p><strong>Perspective beyond obvious</strong></p>

<p>With each blow on the environment, we must realise that we are pushing the human race towards a vulnerable and low-quality lifestyle. We must have lost faith in ourselves, otherwise, we would have never doubted the power of one person dedicated to a good cause. The fact that we are casual about our habits and passive to surrounding problems, expose a threatening world in coming days. With the fast depletion of the basic resources, we are almost walking on the edge of time, where we might have to change few definitions in the social science books.</p>

<p>One of the leading physicists, Stephen Hawkings believes that human stupidity and pollution are the biggest threat to the mankind.</p>

<p>Even in a divided world, the sorrow of the environment unites us. Before the grief turns a threat to existence, lets at least make an attempt towards a better future.</p>


The continuous deterioration of air quality is leading to various cardiovascular diseases and breathing problem

Hypothetically, time travels in my head, always take me to an imaginary window, through which I can see lush green trees across the street. Maybe after a cup of tea, practise yoga, inhaling the fresh air and while travelling to another place, cross a fresh stream or any water body that is responsible for providing drinking water to the city. Time and space window shopping, is a few minute luxury, always failing to the gravity of reality. The alarming deterioration of air quality in and around my city, especially this time of the year always attracts multiple reports from various angles, parallel planes with other issues, and studio debates on the white smog. While all this goes on, we still breathe. We breathe the analogies, theoretical solutions, and short-term bans. All the while still choking on a constant deteriorating air of the National Capital Region and then like any particulate matter which cannot be seen, yet harmful for lungs as it can be absorbed by the body, we settle down at a corner away from the action. Prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event. × Bad air, bad blood Various scientific studies prove that prolonged exposure to particulate air pollution is associated with the adverse cardiovascular event. Both gaseous air pollutants (ie, ozone, sulphur and nitric oxides, carbon monoxide) and particulate matter (pm) cause adverse effects on health. However, the most serious effects are related to the particulate matter. When we inhale polluted air with high levels of pm 2.5, due to their characteristic small size it penetrates beyond the upper respiratory tract into alveoli of the lungs, and from there enter into the circulation system. The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths. × These particulate matters also consist of many toxic substances (eg: metals) which leads to oxidative stress, i.e. impaired performance of cells caused by the presence of too many oxygen molecules in them and fibrinolysis, a process which prevents blood clots formation. Few other toxins lead to blood clot formation in the arteries, thus considerably increasing the chances of a heart stroke. The World Health Organisation calculates the urban air pollution is an important cause of global mortality, being responsible for almost 700,000 premature deaths. The saga of an outsider: particulate matter The human immune system consists of many policemen known as the antibodies, their job is to check any infiltration of foreign bodies called antigen. In case they identify such antigen, pass the intelligence information to all the other forces (enzymes and other immune bodies). Their job is to surround the foreign body and start killing it. Such intra body war-like scenario often gives out silent signals like itching and reddening of the area. When a similar heightened process occurs in lungs due to the particulate matter, a foreign body settling in alveoli, the muscles in the airways of the lungs constrict, as a result the person find difficulty in breathing. India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases COPD and asthma. × The facts According to a recent survey: 35 per cent kids from Indian metro cities have asthma, whereas, about 22 million Americans have asthma. There are 5.4 million people with asthma in the UK, in every 10 seconds, someone is having a potentially life-threatening asthma attack in the UK. India accounts for a quarter of deaths caused worldwide by the two most chronic respiratory diseases, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) and asthma, according to the latest global burden of disease study. Perspective beyond obvious With each blow on the environment, we must realise that we are pushing the human race towards a vulnerable and low-quality lifestyle. We must have lost faith in ourselves, otherwise, we would have never doubted the power of one person dedicated to a good cause. The fact that we are casual about our habits and passive to surrounding problems, expose a threatening world in coming days. With the fast depletion of the basic resources, we are almost walking on the edge of time, where we might have to change few definitions in the social science books. One of the leading physicists, Stephen Hawkings believes that human stupidity and pollution are the biggest threat to the mankind. Even in a divided world, the sorrow of the environment unites us. Before the grief turns a threat to existence, lets at least make an attempt towards a better future.

The future seems blurred through smog and dust

particulate-matter

Particulate Matter, News on Particulate Matter, stories on Particulate Matter, articles on Particulate Matter, Particulate Matter stories at Wion, Particulate Matter news, Particulate Matter latest news