Delhi’s air pollution is driven by emissions from multiple sectors and regions, not only vehicles, construction, or stubble burning. Experts say effective action will require coordinated targets for power generation, industry, transportation and other sources across northern India, while health risks remain severe: winter AQI readings often exceed 300, PM2.5 concentrations can rise to more than 25 times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit, and air pollution could shorten life expectancy in Delhi by up to 8.2 years.
Pollution comes from many sources
“If we want to reduce pollution, we need to set targets for all sectors, including power generation, industry and transportation, not just vehicle access, construction and stubble burning,” said Manoj Kumar, an analyst at the Center for Energy and Clean Air Research.
“We know how much each sector and each state contributes to pollution. We can set targets to reduce emissions from each sector over the next five years.”
Voss points out that secondary pollutants receive too little attention. These pollutants form when gases in the air react with sunlight, water vapor and other substances, creating harmful particles and contributing to air pollution.
“Pollution is not just caused by biomass burning or vehicles,” he says. “Dust kicked up from the ground, coal and fly ash, materials burned in brick kilns, and large-scale incineration of municipal waste also contribute to the problem, and much of it remains unstopped.”
Pollution crosses Delhi’s borders
Delhi’s pollution is also affected by conditions outside the city. Pollutants flow into Delhi from neighboring states and other parts of northern India, exacerbating the problem, Boss said.
This limits what Delhi can achieve through measures taken within the city, he added. Neighboring states and the wider northern region will need to work together to address the problem.
Severe health risks
Air pollution affects people’s health every day. During winter, government monitoring stations in Delhi frequently record air quality index (AQI) readings above 300, a level classified as “very poor.”
On particularly bad days, readings can reach 500, the highest point on India’s scale. This does not mean pollution cannot rise further; it means national trackers are not recording levels beyond that point. International trackers such as Switzerland-based IQAir record readings close to 1,000 on some days.
The World Health Organization recommends that average PM2.5 concentrations over a 24-hour period should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic meter. In Delhi, concentrations often exceed 25 times that limit during pollution seasons.
Dr. Manoj Goel, head of the respiratory department at Fortis Memorial Institute near Delhi, said these small particles “can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, causing inflammation and affecting multiple organs.”
Even short-term exposure can cause throat irritation, coughing, wheezing and shortness of breath. It can also worsen existing heart or lung conditions.
A 2025 report from the University of Chicago Energy Policy Institute estimates that air pollution could reduce life expectancy in Delhi by up to 8.2 years.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk