
The concentration of cancer-causing PM2.5 dust in the Indian capital reached 879 micrograms per cubic meter on Monday after a massive fireworks display.
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Delhi has been struggling with the problem of smog for years, especially during the winter season. Transport, biomass burning and industry are responsible for pollution.
Air pollution in parts of India's capital, Delhi, exceeded air quality standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO) by more than 58 times on Monday, official data showed.
The reason was a massive fireworks display on the occasion of the Hindu festival of Diwali.
Record exceedances of standards
According to official data, on Monday morning in the Mandir Marg district, the concentration of carcinogenic PM2.5 particulate matter reached 879 micrograms per cubic meter. This is as much as 58 times more than the WHO daily limit, which is 15 micrograms.
Such high values were recorded just a few hours after the culmination of the pyrotechnic shows that traditionally accompany Diwali celebrations.
Despite the ruling of the Supreme Court, which allowed only limited use of the so-called green fireworks, the ban was massively violated.
The air quality monitoring organization IQAir, citing government data, emphasizes that the use of pyrotechnic materials has drastically worsened the air quality in a metropolis inhabited by over 30 million people.
Smog – a problem not only during holidays
Delhi has been struggling with the problem of smog for years, especially during the winter season. According to the Indian Ministry of Environment, transport is responsible for almost a quarter of winter air pollution, 20 percent is caused by the burning of biomass, including harvest waste, and 9 percent is caused by industry.
In recent weeks, the authorities have introduced restrictions on road traffic and construction works to curb the health-damaging phenomenon.
Air pollution in India has serious health consequences. According to a study published in 2024 in the journal "The Lancet Planetary Health", between 2009 and 2019, smog contributed to the death of approximately 3.8 million people.

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