Indoor air is 10 times more polluted than the outdoor air – In Delhi no place is safe

In fact environmental exposures can cause infants to be born premature, or of low weight or born with certain birth defects. These babies are far more likely to die during infancy, and the survivors are prone to high risks of brain, respiratory, and digestive problems in early life.

The science behind this is: human brain cells are highly sensitive to the availability of oxygen as compared with other cells of the body. If deprived, they quickly begin to die. The major threats are very high PM2.5 and Ozone levels in Delhi’s air.

When there is a temperature inversion and warm air is unable to rise, warmer air starts moving horizontally towards the cooler zone where there are trees. Along with that warm air floats the PM2.5 and Ozone, further contaminating the air of these green patches.

One good example is Lodi Gardens, a green public park spread over eighty acres, in Lutyens Delhi. It has over 5,400 trees, which attract migratory birds during winter. The garden, a botanist’s treasure trove, has the National Bonsai Park located in it. Despite it looking green and hence misleadingly feeling good, the high count of PM2.5 and Ozone are really shocking, especially in the morning, when most people like to go for a walk in the Lodi Gardens. The situation improves in the afternoon when it becomes warmer.

People rely on greener areas for morning walks, jogging and physical exercises, and here it is what they are breathing. But Delhi’s air is carcinogenic, and air pollution is the silent and invisible killer. It is like being continuously exposed to invisible x-rays! Out of sight is out of mind.

Needless to say, you will find hospitals and healthcare centres filled with patients having health problems pertaining to air pollution between Diwali this month and Holi in March.

Who is at the highest risk? The staff of Delhi Police, Delhi Jal Board, bus drivers, slum dwellers, petrol pump attendants, electricians, NDMC, PWD, DDA and MCD workers, cleaning staff, and the citizens travelling in buses and autos.

It is the bottom of the pyramid in Delhi that is affected most.

But who cares for them? These are the people who do not have the luxury of quitting their job and leaving Delhi. Then what can they do? They need to breathe. It is their right.