As per Central Pollution Control Board’s data, air quality of Delhi has deteriorated to “severe” category on November 5, after Diwali.

Highlights

• The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was recorded as 444 on November 5 at 6 a.m. By 8 am, it worsened to 451.
• Air pollution of severe levels affects healthy people. It also has serious impacts to people with existing diseases.
• Air quality is likely to improve from November 7.

What is National Air Quality Index?

National Air Quality Index was launched in 2014, with the tagline ‘One Number – One Colour -One Description’. It was launched for the common man to judge air quality locally. Air quality is measured on the basis of eight pollutants- Particulate Matter (PM10), Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Ozone (O3), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Lead (Pb) and Ammonia (NH3).

Categories of AQI

AQI has six categories of air quality namely, Severe, Very Poor, Poor, Moderately Polluted, Satisfactory and Good.