THE Pollution in much of northern India has been extreme in recent weeks, with extremely harmful values ​​for human health. Although the numbers improved last weekend after some rain, the Poor outlookbecause this reality in the country is far from being resolved because nothing is being done to bring about concrete changes.

The Himalayas and the high atmospheric pressure in the region prevent air ventilation and pollution worsens as the days go by.

Beside the industrial pollution have a certain Fires aggravating the situation that occurred in Punjab and Haryana. They are the result of indiscriminate burning of straw in agriculture, an ancient technique that is far from extinct. It should be kept in mind that the great barrier represented by the Himalayas to the northleads to the fact that in certain weather conditions the Chances of atmospheric ventilation are almost zero.

Apart from global pollutant dispersion models, there are no model-based estimates in India providing data on the contribution of straw burning to air pollution in New Delhi. It is therefore difficult to say whether or not the smoke from the fires contributed to the pollution in recent days. According to Hindustan Times The worst day was October 23.

The numbers are much higher than acceptable

THE Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the state agency responsible for monitoring environmental pollution in the country, is responsible for carrying out measurements on the basis of which certain state measures are taken. For several days between the second half of October and the first decade of November, temperatures exceeded those measured in New Delhi. Pollution levels slightly exceed levels above which pollution is very dangerous to humans.

Despite this situation, air quality in New Delhi experienced its best October since 2016, the first year since the start of the analysis of this parameter. On the other hand, the number of active fires detected in the period from October 1 to 22 and in the week ending October 22 was this year the lowest since 2016. It is interesting to note that despite this improvement, the situation is still far from acceptable. In the cover photo of this article you can clearly see the level of pollution we are talking about.

In any case, some believe that the figures obtained underestimate the situation, which in reality is much worse. On the one hand, there are only a few on-site measurements, which means that the average value determined is not representative of reality. Second, the Suomi Nuclear Power Plant satellite typically captures images of India over two 3-4 hour periods per day: around noon and midnight. The satellite is unlikely to detect short-lived fires occurring outside of these periods.

Schools closed and hospitals overwhelmed

This is a situation that has been going on for years Result of the interaction of a certain number of variables. On the one hand, the industrial matrix and the use of engines with high levels of pollution, on the other, agriculture which continues to burn straw without any programming. The country is far from having eliminated most of the elements causing serious pollution.

Atmospheric circulation is crucial, particularly when anticyclones settle over the area and the resulting subsidence increases the density of pollutants near the ground. To this is added that New Delhi, one of the most densely populated cities in the world East. More than 32 million people live there in an area of ​​only 42.7 square kilometers.

All these weather conditions are noisy Nature expected in the post-monsoon season. Especially Children and adults with respiratory problems have overwhelmed emergency departments hospitals and Schools had to close. The worst pollutants in New Delhi’s air are fine particles that the lungs cannot filter, ozone and sulfur dioxide. The value of very fine particles is greater than 200 micrograms per cubic meter, although according to the values ​​given by the World Health Organization it should not exceed 15 micrograms.