Overall Air quality Index (AQI) 372 on the National Ambient Air Quality Index (NAAQI) recorded under Very Poor category on Friday. According to SAFAR, under the cold stable night time, near surface air is becoming stagnant without nay mixing, leads to accumulation of pollutants.
The AQI is likely to stay at very poor to the lower end of the severe category for the next two days. Slight improvement is expecting only by January 6th. Top three Air Pollution Hot spots of Delhi are likely to be GT road, Vasundhara and Sahibabad.
According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), values of primary pollutants — Suspended Particulate Matters (SPMs) 10 and 2.5 recorded three times higher than prescribed standards recorded 344 and 214.
Meanwhile cautioning people, SAFAR in its health bulletin recommended stop outdoor activities at early morning and after sunset times. “Avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Go for a short walk instead of a jog and take more breaks. Stop any activity level if you experience any unusual coughing, chest discomfort, wheezing, breathing difficulty, or fatigue. If the room has windows, close them. If the air conditioner provides a fresh air intake option, keep that closed. Avoid burning of wood, candles or incense and keep the room clean - dont vacuum. Do wet mopping to reduce dust.”
SAFAR also recommended people to wear mask N-95 or P -100 respirators.
