-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Air quality in the city is deteriorating every day as agricultural waste burning continues unabated in Punjab and Haryana. Doctors, too, are seeing a jump in cases of acute bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) and asthma. They are advising those who are vulnerable or already suffering from respiratory disorders to avoid going out during peak traffic hours, keeping inhalers handy and, if smog is...

-Outlook New Delhi: The air quality in the national has deteriorated significantly and experts identified burning of agricultural wastes in neighbouring states as one of the major contributors to a visible haze over the city. As per official data, the air quality in the city has slipped into the category of "poor" following rapid increase of PM2.5 (respirable particles) level. The Air Quality Index value, calculated on the basis of PM 2.5 level,...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: The sustained anti-firecracker campaign, clampdown on Chinese crackers and a 10pm deadline do not seem to have made the city breathe any easier this Diwali than during the last one. There was no significant improvement in air quality compared to last year. The range of average PM 2.5 (fine, respirable particles) may have reduced from 201-533 microgram per cubic metre last Diwali to 145-500 microgram per...

-The Times of India   NEW DELHI: Emissions of fine particulate matter or PM2.5 in Delhi have increased by 11.5% over the past four years, according to a GIS-based inventory prepared by Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), an autonomous body under the ministry of earth sciences. The transport sector appears to be the worst culprit as it's the biggest contributor to this jump followed by manufacturing industries and power plants. After...

-The Times of India NEW DELHI: Localized air pollution, posing an environmental and health challenge, has been linked to the presence of 'heat islands' in Delhi - pockets which are significantly warmer than their surroundings. A study of these localized 'hot spots', compiled after a controversy over a Delhi versus Beijing pollution scare, revealed that vehicular congestion in conjunction with highly built-up areas is creating worrying levels of pollution, affecting a significant...