🔗 Share this article Delhi Wakes Up to Toxic Pollution Following Diwali As Tuesday dawned citizens of this heavily contaminated metropolis encountered inhaling extremely polluted air that registered in the "severe" range. Record-Breaking Pollution Measurements Multiple areas of Delhi recorded an air quality index over 500, which equals ten times the safe level set by the global health authority. Particular areas, levels of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1,800, amounting to 15-20x above safe standards. Firecracker Restrictions and New Developments For the past four years, authorities had enforced a complete ban on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during Diwali due to their major role to the deadly haze that blankets the city as winter sets in. However earlier this year, the current local administration appealed to the highest court to request a relaxation of the restrictions. Officials advocated for allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – historically criticized by environmentalists as being only approximately one-third lower impact – as a compromise between "tradition and environment". Legal Verdict and Enforcement Despite concerns of public health and environmental advocates, judges approved the proposal, mandating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during designated hours throughout the festival. During the celebrations, there was extensive flouting of the designated hours across the capital, with insufficient enforcement regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the more environmentally friendly variety. Numerous monitoring devices throughout Delhi showed contamination spiking around the night hours to extremely hazardous measurements recorded during celebrations in at least recent memory. Regional Effects Extensive ignition of pyrotechnics during the celebrations also triggered a controversy with neighbouring the neighboring country, with representatives in Pakistani Punjab province pointing to worsening atmospheric conditions in Lahore on hazardous particles originating in across the border following the festivities. Chronic Environmental Issue Alarmingly severe readings of pollution in the capital have continued as a significant problem for over a decade and a half, with the problem continuing to worsen. Around Diwali, the levels of dangerous airborne contaminants in the environment has been observed to increase dramatically to seventy percent above the most severe records ever documented in the Chinese city, which was once viewed as the globally most contaminated city. Diverse Pollution Contributors The problem in the capital is attributed to a combination of various sources including transportation pollution, dust, building projects, waste incineration and smoke from farm burning in nearby areas of Punjab and Haryana. In these regions, agricultural workers regularly set their fields on fire to prepare for next season, producing hazardous smog that remains stagnant over the city as winter air descends. Medical and Economic Toll Both financial and medical impact on the nearly 33 million people living in the capital region is substantial, according to numerous studies. The contaminated air results in high levels of nervous system, heart and circulatory and breathing conditions, and can potentially cause oncological diseases. Environmental contamination is projected to be causing 10,000 early deaths per year in the capital.