Air pollution in Delhi is the result of various factors, including high vehicle emissions, industrial waste, construction dust and seasonal stubble burning. These sources, combined with geographic factors and rapid urbanization, create serious air quality problems that impact health and the environment. Regional contributions further aggravate the situation.
Air pollution in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) is a large and long-standing problem, with a myriad of local and regional factors exacerbating the situation. Some of these major pollutants can be classified into several main sources:
Major contributors to air pollution in Delhi
1. Vehicle emissions
Main source: Vehicles account for nearly 51.5% of total pollution in Delhi and are the largest contributor to air pollution. Emissions from vehicles include cars, buses, two-wheelers, etc
Some specific pollutants include: Vehicles are the largest contributors to particulate emissions (PM2.5 and PM10), as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). For example, vehicles account for about 78% of NOx emissions.
Related stories
2. Construction activities
Dust generation: Dust particles added to the atmosphere through ongoing construction activities cause air quality to deteriorate. This source has more potential in a rapidly urbanizing city like Delhi.
3. Industrial emissions
Industrial Pollution: All types of industrial pollution, and especially industrial emissions, are important pollution factors in Delhi, along with sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter. Industrial activities account for about 41% of PM10 and 44% of PM2.5 in NCR.
4. Burn stubble
Seasonal impact: Stubble burning in neighboring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh significantly impacts Delhi’s air quality, mainly in winter. It is known that stubble burning increases PM2.5 levels by about 35% during peak pollution periods.
5. Burn waste
Practice of open burning: Garbage and waste are burned into the atmosphere, adding to the pollution load, thereby contributing to about 1.3% of the total air quality problems in Delhi.
6. Road dust and open spaces
Road dust: Road dust includes dust collected from paved roads and construction sites, making up about 38% of PM2.5 in the city.
Other sources affect air quality
Geographical factors: Delhi’s geographical location and overall weather pattern are generally in winter when temperatures deploy a term called temperature inversion. This in turn causes pollutants near the ground to increase sharply, increasing smog.
Population growth: With more than 20 million people living here, population growth increases the number of vehicles, waste, energy and all elements of pollution.
Contribution from neighboring districts: Contribution from neighboring districts is also a cause of pollution in Delhi. For example, Ghaziabad contributes about 9% and Noida about 6.5%.
Delhi and the NCR region face a complex interaction between vehicle emissions, industrial activities, dust from construction, agricultural activities such as stubble burning and waste management activities. there’s a problem. These sources are diverse and require combined efforts of sectors and regions for effective pollution control.
