Agencies
NEW DELHI, Nov 2: The national capital's PM2.5 levels hit a peak by midnight on Diwali this year, which was 13 per cent higher than the peaks observed last year and in 2022, a recent analysis showed.
Diwali night this year also saw higher nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels, which indicates high traffic congestion, a report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said.
The research organisation's report also said that unlike previous years there was a quick build-up of PM2.5 levels and dissipation the next day.
"By midnight on October 31, PM2.5 hit a peak of 603 µg/m³, 13 per cent higher than Diwali peaks observed in 2022 and 2023," the report stated.
Meanwhile, a report by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), said the PM2.5 levels decreased by 4 per cent as compared to Diwali last year.
PM2.5 are fine inhalable particles with a diameter that is generally 2.5 micrometres or less and are hazardous for health. The acceptable annual standard for PM2.5 is 40 micrograms per cubic metre.
The CSE report said PM2.5 levels were already rising steadily during the five days leading up to Diwali, and showed a marked increase of 46 per cent from October 28 through October 31.
The 12-hour (from 8 pm to 8 am) of PM2.5 concentration on Diwali night in 2024 was 34 per cent higher than Diwali night in October 2022, it said.
Moreover, PM2.5 levels this year were more than twice as high as the average night-time pollution recorded over the seven nights before Diwali, the report stated.
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