Delhi Pollution: How To Protect Yourself From 'Severe' Air Quality, Here Are Tips

The residents of Delhi once again woke up to 'severe' air quality on Wednesday as a blanket of smog wrapped Delhi-NCR. According to the Central Pollution Control Board, the air quantity index was 416 at 11 am. At 6pm, the AQI was Noida sector-62 527. On Tuesday, the overall air quality index was 414 at 8 pm, worse than Monday's AQI of 397, according to the CPCB.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', and 401-500 'severe'. Above 500 is 'severe-plus emergency' category.

The AQI takes into account five chief pollutants -- particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometres (PM10), PM2.5, ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO).

The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern.

Here are some tips people can follow to protect themselves:

Stay indoors as much as possible

If you are going out for morning walks despite the poor quality, if you are inhaling the slow poison. Since the air quality in Delhi and NCR has plummeted, it will only harm your body. There is a possibility of that tiny hazardous particle can enter lungs. It’s better to workout indoors.

Wear mask before stepping out

Always wear a mask before going out. Anti-pollution mask prevents inhaling toxic air. Inhaling toxic air may lead to lung and other ailments.

Ventilate your home

While outdoor air pollution is a concern, indoor air pollution can be an even greater threat to the health and well-being of the residents. So, ventilating your home by opening doors and windows and using exhaust fans is advised.

Get some indoor plants

Plants like Aloe Vera, Areca Palm, English Ivy, and Spider Plant can be used to improve indoor air quality.

Buy air purifier

Home air purifiers with HEPA filters can work wonders when it comes to improving indoor air quality. These smart home products can remove up to 99% of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds and harmful gases from an ambient space.

Eat healthy

Include foods with more vitamin C, omega 3 fatty acid, and magnesium in your diet. These elements can help your body in beating the ill effects of breathing in polluted air. Jaggery or Gur can flush out pollutants from lungs. It can be consumed after meals or can be used as a replacement for sugar.