Delhi suffers extremely severe air pollution

Tens of millions of residents in India’s capital Delhi are choking in a blanketing toxic smog, as worsening pollution has triggered curbs on trucking and shuttered construction sites and schools

INDIA
DELHI

DELHI AIR QUALITY INDEX (24 hours)
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
300
0

6PM
732

9PM
1,338

3AM
754

11AM
1,758

5PM
1,063

Score above 300 deemed hazardous to health

6pm
Nov 17

Nov 18
12pm

6am

12am

DEADLY DUST
PM2.5: Fine particulate matter that is 2.5 microns or less in diameter

Human hair
50µm-70µm

2.5µm
to scale

Level of PM2.5 in Delhi is 130 times higher than safe levels set by World Health Organisation

When inhaled, PM2.5 can enter bloodstream and is linked to asthma, heart disease, lung disease and cancer

Sources: Bloomberg, IQAir, California Air Resources Board
Picture: Getty Images
© GRAPHIC NEWS