Residents of Delhi on Monday complained of deteriorating air quality and a thick layer of smog as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “severe” category, registering 452 at 8 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Delhi continued to experience hazardous air conditions, with Anand Vihar recording an AQI of 493, placing it in the “Severe” category. Dense smog also engulfed areas around Kartavya Path, Akshardham, AIIMS and Yashobhoomi.
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According to the WHO, people living in low- and middle-income countries are disproportionately exposed to outdoor air pollution, with 89% (of 4.2 million premature deaths) occurring in these areas.
How does air pollution affect our health?
According to a report by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, numerous studies have shown that even short-term exposure to elevated levels of outdoor air pollution can impair lung function, trigger asthma, cause heart problems and increase emergency department visits and hospitalizations.
Air pollution is also associated with higher mortality, with exposure to PM2.5 significantly increasing the risk of death.
High levels of air pollution pose a wide range of public health risks, including cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, diabetes, obesity and disorders affecting the reproductive, neurological and immune systems.
Cancer
A large study of more than 57,000 women has suggested that living near major roads may increase the risk of breast cancer. Occupational exposure to benzene, a chemical found in gasoline and industrial processes, is linked to leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, the report says.
Research from 2000-2016 found a link between the incidence of lung cancer and higher reliance on coal for energy production. Analysis of a national data set of older adults showed that long-term (10-year) exposure to PM2.5 and NO2 was associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and prostate cancer.
Asthma
Air pollution also negatively affects lung development and contributes to respiratory diseases such as emphysema, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
The increase in the prevalence and severity of asthma is related to urbanization and outdoor air pollution. Children living in low-income urban areas tend to have more cases of asthma than others. Research published in 2023 linked two air pollutants, ozone and PM2.5, to asthma-related changes in children’s airways.
Who is most affected by air pollution?
While air pollution affects everyone’s health, certain groups are disproportionately affected. Almost 90% of people living in urban areas worldwide are exposed to air pollution.
NIEHS-funded research reveals racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities in air pollution exposure. Although overall emissions have declined in recent decades, this reduction has not been uniform across demographic groups.
People with annual incomes above $70,000 generally see greater declines in emissions from industry, energy, transportation, residential and commercial sources compared to the lower-income population, the report said.
SC to hear plea on Delhi-NCR air pollution crisis on December 17
The Supreme Court on Monday said it will take up a plea on December 17 for hearing regarding the worsening air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, PTI reported.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pamcholi took note of the submission of senior advocate Aprajita Singh, who is assisting it as amicus curiae, that though preventive measures were in place, the key problem was their poor implementation by the authorities.
Noida, India – December 13, 2025: Amid rising air pollution, commuters braved a foggy and chilly morning, a blanket of toxic smog blanketed the city, Noida’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained above 800 live in Noida, India on Saturday, December 13, 2025 (indutoshosh) to Hindhostansh Sundhostansh.Read also | Air pollution curbs introduced: Classes up to 5 moved online in Noida, Ghaziabad
On Monday, Delhi was engulfed in thick smog, with the air quality index (AQI) reaching 498, putting it at the top of the “severe” category.
Air quality was classified as “severe” at 38 monitoring stations and “very poor” at two others. Jahangirpuri recorded the highest AQI at 498, making it the most polluted area among all 40 stations.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 to 100 as “satisfactory”, 101 to 200 as “moderate”, 201 to 300 as “bad”, 301 to 400 as “very bad” and 5000 always as “very bad”
Delhi’s AQI hit 461 on Sunday, marking the city’s most polluted day this winter and the second-worst December air quality day on record, as light winds and cool temperatures trapped pollutants near the surface.
(With input from agencies)
