Delhi’s air quality has seen a marginal improvement on Monday from the ‘severe’ category to ‘very poor’ category. According to government agency SAFAR, the national capital’s overall air quality index (AQI) on January 18 was registered at 329. PM10 pollutants were recorded at 237 and PM2.5 pollutants were recorded at 158.
"The air quality is likely to stay in the same 'very poor' category for the next two days," the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) said in a statement.
As per the forecast, the air quality may further improve on January 20 and may remain at the lower end of the 'very poor' to 'poor' category.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), earlier has warned that AQI in 'poor' category can result in breathing problems after continued exposure. While 'very poor' air quality can lead to respiratory sickness and 'severe' could affect those with underlying health conditions.
Wind speed has supported the diffusion of pollutants and has improved the city's air quality slightly, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) officials said.
The city's 24-hour average AQI was 347 on Sunday. It was 407 on Saturday, 460 on Friday, 429 on Thursday, and 354 on Wednesday.
An AQI between zero and 50 is considered "good", 51 and 100 "satisfactory", 101 and 200 "moderate", 201 and 300 "poor", 301 and 400 "very poor", and 401 and 500 "severe".