New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal recently tweeted a global ranking by Swiff firm IQ Air which placed Mumbai second on the list of the world's most polluted cities. However, the latest data shows that Delhi still has the worst air pollution in the country even though Mumbai's air quality has definitely deteriorated.
The pollution levels in Delhi have been consistently twice the level of Mumbai, reported NDTV. The data regarding the level of PM 2.5 pollutants show that in 2022, Delhi's air pollution has been higher than Mumbai's every month. This trend has been the same and consistent in the past four years. Delhi's annual average of PM 2.5 has been an average of 95 micrograms per cubic metre, whereas Mumbai's has been 45.
PM.25 pollutants are the microscopic and lethal particulate matter (PM) that can beat the human body's defences and embed itself deep in the lungs. When compared to the WHO's guidelines for clean air, both Mumbai and Delhi are far from the safe limit.
While Mumbai also sees pollution from vehicles, construction, and road dust, the city is assisted by the sea breeze in clearing out the pollutants. But people with respiratory infections were reported to be struggling in the winter.