SHOCKING! Inhaling Delhi air is equivalent to smoking 17 cigarettes? Know HOW

Winter is knocking the corner in North India. As per met office, the mercury will start dipping in Delhi and adjoining areas from next week. The Air quality Index has been falling for the last one month with the onslaught of stubble burning coupled with Diwali celebration. In spite of ban by the Delhi Government, Delhi became one of the most polluted city in the world as cracker ban goes up in smoke in the city. The Supreme Court of India pulled up the government saying the ban was hardly implemented in the city

Did you know if you are staying in Delhi right now, you are approximately smoking 17 cigarettes worth of air pollution daily? As per Berkeley Earth scientific paper, 1 cigarette is equivalent to inhaling air pollution of 22 µg/m3 for one day. Right now, the AQI of Delhi is above 380 at most places. In some places it goes beyond 400 which translates to 'very poor' and 'severe' category of air quality respectively. Hence, according to the Berkeley study, inhaling Delhi air right now is as hazardous as smoking 17 cigarettes a day

Prolonged exposure to poor air effects your respiratory system. It can trigger asthma, bronchitis and other respiratory problems. Children and people with existing asthma conditions are at particular risk. Polluted air increases the risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. Tiny particles from polluted air can enter the bloodstream, leading to inflammation in blood vessels and increased strain on the heart

Long-term exposure to air pollutants can weaken the immune system, making individuals more vulnerable to infections. Pollutants reduce the body’s ability to fight off viruses and bacteria, increasing susceptibility to illnesses. Not only Delhi, but NCR region too is reeling from the same problem. Gaziabad currently has an AQI index of 303 which translates to smoking 13 cigarretes per day!