Delhi treated to clean air after R-Day showers

RESPITE Friday’s pollutant levels improved from ‘moderate’ to ‘good’

NEWDELHI: A day after rain lashed the city, both PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels improved from ‘moderate’ levels on Friday morning to ‘good’ in the evening.

According to science ministry’s SAFAR air quality monitoring app, PM 10 was recorded at 103μg/m3 in the morning. It dropped to 95μg/m3 by 5 pm. PM 2.5, which measures the finer and more dangerous particulate matter, was recorded at 95μg/m3 in the morning, which improved to 87μg/m3 by the evening.

The acceptable levels of PM 2.5 and PM10 are 60μg/m3 and 100μg/m3, respectively. The app records 24-hour rolling averages of PM 10 and PM 2.5 pollutants and uses the estimate to calculate the Air Quality Index (AQI).

“This is purely because of the rain. As it rained quite heavily on Thursday, it washed out most of the pollutants in the air,” said Gufran Beig, project director at SAFAR. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) recorded 23.7 mm rain on Thursday.

According to SAFAR’s health advisory, the levels are ‘satisfactory,’ and ‘poses little or no risk.’ The moderate levels of particulate matter are considered ‘acceptable,’ but ‘may be a moderate health concern for people sensitive to air pollution.’

While the development brought a much-needed respite, pollutants may accumulate again to touch ‘moderate’ levels on Saturday. PM 10 and PM 2.5 levels are both expected to rise to

This is purely because of the rain. As it rained quite heavily on Thursday, it washed out most of the pollutants in the air.

142 and 166 μg/m3, respectively.

IMD officials said, “There have been no reports of rain in the national capital on Friday.” The only instance of rain recorded in Delhi-NCR on Friday was in Akshardham, where 1mm rain was recorded.

“The sources of pollution are continuous. Once the washout effect of the rain wears off, pollutants will start accumulating again,” said Beig.