🔗 Share this article India's capital Rises to Hazardous Haze After Celebrations Tuesday brought citizens of the world's most polluted city were faced with breathing extremely polluted air that fell into the "alarming" range. Record-Breaking Air Quality Readings Various sections of the city showed an air quality index over 500, which equals 10x the recommended level established by the WHO. Certain monitoring stations, levels of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1800, equating to 15 to 20 times above healthy standards. Fireworks Ban and New Changes For the past four years, officials had implemented a total prohibition on the distribution and bursting of pyrotechnics during Diwali due to their substantial impact to the deadly smog that blankets the metropolis as the cold season sets in. Nevertheless in recent months, the current local government approached the supreme court to request a easing of the ban. They proposed allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously criticized by environmental experts as being only approximately one-third lower impact – as a middle ground between "tradition and public health". Judicial Decision and Reality Much to the frustration of public health and environmental campaigners, judges complied with the request, specifying that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during designated hours throughout the festival. On Monday night, there was widespread flouting of the regulated periods across the metropolis, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the supposedly greener type. Several monitoring devices throughout the city recorded pollution peaking around the night hours to some of the worst readings recorded during celebrations in at least recent memory. International Consequences The widespread use of fireworks during Diwali also triggered a controversy with neighbouring Pakistan, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province partly blaming deteriorating atmospheric conditions in Lahore on hazardous particles coming from neighboring India following the events. Chronic Pollution Problem Alarmingly severe levels of air contamination in the city have remained as a major issue for over a decade and a half, with the situation continuing to worsen. Near celebratory seasons, the amount of hazardous particles in the atmosphere has been observed to increase dramatically to 70% higher the most severe levels ever measured in China's capital, which was formerly viewed as the globally most contaminated metropolis. Multiple Contamination Sources The problem in the capital is resulting from a convergence of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, construction activities, garbage fires and haze from crop residue ignition in nearby regions of neighboring agricultural zones. Throughout these areas, farmers routinely ignite agricultural waste to prepare for next season, producing toxic haze that remains stagnant over the city as cooler air descends. Public Health and Economic Consequences Public health and economic consequences on the roughly thirty-three million people calling home the metropolitan zone is significant, according to various studies. The contaminated air causes elevated rates of nervous system, cardiovascular and lung diseases, and can even lead to oncological diseases. Environmental contamination is calculated to be causing 10,000 early mortalities per year in the capital.