Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Delhi pollution: Are Diwali fireworks to blame?
The air quality of many cities in India is poor or even hazardous. In fact, 20 of the world’s 30 most polluted cities are in India. Especially in this time of year, Delhi and other cities in northern India experience poor air quality due to crop burning and seasonal weather patterns. Furthermore, there is a popular festival called Diwali, India's biggest and most important holiday of the year that celebrates lights. People decorate their homes with clay lamps and enjoy firework festivities outside. Yes, a lot of fireworks, which seems to worsen the already poor air quality especially with PM2.5, a type of pollution involving fine particles fewer than 2.5 microns, or 0.0025mm, in diameter and is one of the most harmful particles for human health. During the festival, the PM2.5 levels go way above the recommended WHO guidelines in these cities. Also, another research found significantly increased levels of hazardous substances like Sulphur dioxide, ozone, lead, and copper during the Diwali period. So, why do people still burn such hazardous substances just for fun?
Enjoy reading the article and learn about Diwali and air quality in India.
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