India’s car-dominated national capital is no longer in the top ten cities choked by particulate matter. It has been known for long that the States along the Indo-Gangetic basin register higher levels of particulate matter pollution due to specific factors. After topping the list of cities with the most polluted air, Delhi’s ranking has improved in the latest air quality assessment published by the World Health Organization. It is strongly quantified through research that air pollution increases the risk of death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart problems, lung cancer and other chronic ailments. Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh contribute a large part of the air pollution suffered by populations in the east too.

Source: The Hindu May 16, 2016 13:37 UTC