Up until recently, Delhi was the butt of many jokes because statistics and data showed that it had the worst air quality in the country. However, it looks like now the joke is on Mumbai. Recent data shows that not only is the air quality in Mumbai worse than Delhi, but it is also the second most polluted city in the world, according to a weekly weather ranking. Delhi, on the other hand, wasn’t even in the top 10 most polluted cities.
Weekly Weather Ranking: Mumbai’s Air Quality 2nd Worst
As per the data provided by a real-time international Swiss air tracking Index, IQAir, the air quality in Mumbai is now one of the worst in the world. According to the data, in the week between the 29th of January and the 8th of February, Mumbai was the second most polluted city in the world.
It claimed the top spot on the list on the 2nd of February and then dropped lower in the following days. As of yesterday, the 13th of February, Mumbai was the third most polluted city in the world. The data that IQAir received was in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Also Read: NCCR Rates These 3 Chennai Beaches Out Of 75 As Clean And Comparatively Plastic And Pollution Free!
Reason For The Poor Air Quality In Mumbai
According to some experts, the reason for this poor air quality is primarily due to the dust and smoke that vehicles continuously leave in their wake. There is also a lot of construction happening in Mumbai which can also be the reason for such poor air quality. Since the dust particles from construction sites are also not getting dispersed owing to a natural phenomenon called La Nina, the air quality is suffering.
La Nina is an abnormal drop in the temperature of the surface of the pacific ocean. It reduces the airflow in the atmosphere which, in turn, reduces the dispersal of dust particles in the air. In a 2020 study by the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay (IIT-B), and the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), dust particles from construction sites constitute 71 per cent of the pollutant matter in the air in Mumbai.
How would you grapple with the poor air quality in Mumbai? Let us know your thoughts below!
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