Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad Air Quality Worsens, Drop To ‘Severe’ Category With AQI 282

Ghaziabad air quality drops to the "severe" category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 282.

As air pollution levels worsened sharply across India, Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad is no exception. The city's air quality has dropped to the "severe" category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 282.

According to reports, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) previously identified 17 air pollution areas across Noida and Ghaziabad, which remained persistently polluted that is caused by vehicular emissions, road dust, construction activity, and open storage of building materials.

Pollution Hot Spots: 10 In Noida, 7 In Ghaziabad

On Thursday, Ritesh Tiwari, regional officer of UPPCB, Noida, told a leading media outlet, "We conducted inspections, but could not reduce the number of hot spots. They remain the same as they were last year."

Officials who are familiar with the matter said that 10 locations lie in Noida and 7 others in Ghaziabad. Currently, the hot spots are under mitigation as per the winter action plan.

Tiwari further added, "The hot spots have been identified on the basis of sources of pollution, and extensive air-pollution abatement measures like mechanised road sweeping, water sprinkling, etc, will be taken up by the respective agencies in these areas. The areas are also affected largely by road dust, activities along flood plains, dust due to construction, and demolition activities, among others."

Apart from Noida and Ghaziabad, cities like Meerut, Baghpat, Agra, Aligarh, Saharanpur, and Hapur in Uttar Pradesh are witnessing alarming levels of pollution with AQI readings between 250-350.

Health Risks Associated With Poor Air Quality

A recent report published in The Lancet revealed that over 17 lakh people died in India due to air pollution in 2022, which is a 38 per cent increase when compared to 2010 data.

The World Health organization (WHO) states that pollution can affect one's health very severely. It states, "Fine particulate matter is an important source of health risks, as these small particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, enter the bloodstream, and travel to organs causing systemic damage to tissues and cells."

The global health institution claims that short-term exposure to fine particulate can lead to reduced lung function, respiratory infections and aggravated asthma. A person who has been exposed to pollution for a long time may develop an increased risk for developing diseases like stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer.

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