Air Pollution - Air getting dirtier in many cities across globe, warns WHO

 
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Published: Friday 09 May 2014

Top story
Analysis of database indicates that all 124 Indian cities assessed exceed the WHO guideline for particulate matter levels; Delhi, Patna exceed safe level prescribed by WHO by 15 times
Author: Vivek Chattopadhyay
The latest urban air quality database released by WHO reconfirms what we already know—that most Indian cities are becoming death traps because of very high air pollution levels. India appears among the group of countries with highest particulate matter (PM) levels. Also, its cities have highest levels of PM10 and PM2.5 (particles with diameter of 10 microns and 2.5 microns) when compared to other cities. WHO's urban air quality database covers 1,600 cities across 91 countries.
 
Blog
The mandate is clear. Delhi will have to fulfill the 12th Five Year Plan target of meeting the ambient air quality standards by the end of the plan period
Author: Anumita Roychowdhury
Delhi is enveloped in the seasons' worst killer smog at present. Over the past 24 hours the wind has nearly stopped blowing and cold has set in good and proper. Sunday night was a nightmare for those who were out of their homes or or had a flight or train to catch. People reported difficulty in finding their way through the thick smog. The daily pollution average on January 5 was the highest this winter. Shouldn't all Delhiites now wake up to what winter and the trail of smog episodes is doing to their health and shouldn't air pollution be among the priorities in the 18 point agenda of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which it is not?
 
CSE Statement
Demands stringent measures to cut toxic risk from burgeoning vehicle numbers
Date:May 8, 2014
Delhi-based non-profit Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has demanded strong action from the government to protect public health after WHO released its latest urban air quality database which shows that India is among the group of countries with highest particulate matter (PM) levels. India's cities have the highest levels of PM10 and PM2.5 (particles with diameter of 10 microns and 2.5 microns) when compared to other cities.
 
Delhi faces the same challenge of cleaning up its air as Beijing, but lacks aggression and stringency of action needed to protect public health
Date: Jan 29, 2014
Delhi is fast replacing Beijing in notoriety as the iconic face of the Asian growth story and its pollution aftermath. A Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) assessment of the available air quality data for Delhi and Beijing and the review of air pollution control measures in the two capital cities shows that Delhi is losing the race very fast - it is already more polluted than the Chinese capital.
Video
 
Anumita Roychowdhury head of CSE's clean air and sustainable mobility programme, analyses WHO's urban air quality database. India should stop making excuses and get down to cleaning the air in its cities, she says
 
INTERACTIVE MAP
 
WHO's air quality database covers 1,600 cities across 91 countries - 500 more cities than the previous database (2011)
 
 
Media Clippings
 
The Times of India, May 9, 2014
Beijing battled crisis, Delhi fiddled
The Times of India, May 9, 2014
Delhi air stinks, govt worried about Beijing
Zee News, May 8, 2014
WHO study report on India's air pollution a 'shocker': NGO
Financial Express, May 9 2014e
India rejects WHO report saying Delhi has worst air pollution
Mint, May 8 2014
India challenges report claiming New Delhi’s air most polluted
Business Standard, May 8, 2014
Polluted Delhi air: Does anyone care?
Firstpost, May 9, 2014
Breathing world’s dirtiest air, Delhi needs to clean up its act now
The Telegraph (UK), May 8, 2014
India claims 'bias' as Delhi named world's most polluted city
CNN, May 8, 2014
Top 20 most polluted cities in the world
IANS, May 8
Polluted Delhi air: Does anyone care?
Moneycontrol, May 9, 2014
India rejects WHO's report on New Delhi’s pollution level
The Guardian, May 8, 2014
India admits Delhi matches Beijing for air pollution threatening public health
Deccan Herald, May 9, 2014
Polluted air
The Tribune, May 8, 2014
WHO shocker: Indian cities have dirtiest air, Delhi leads
United Press International, May 8, 2014
Report: New Delhi most polluted city on Earth
The Khaleej Times, May 8, 2014
India admits 'New Delhi as polluted as Beijing'
Bangkok Post, May 8, 2014
India admits 'Delhi as polluted as Beijing'
Oman Tribune, May 9, 2014
Delhi disputes WHO 'polluted city' finding
Dailybhaskar.com, May 8, 2014
Delhi most air-polluted city in the world: WHO
Business Today, May 8, 2014
Delhi is world's most polluted city: WHO study
Jagran Post, May 8, 2014
Delhi most polluted city in world: WHO study
Free Press Journal, May 7, 2014
Delhi has the worst air pollution in the world: WHO study
The Economic Times, May 8, 2014
Delhi has the worst air pollution in world: WHO study
Deccan Chronicle, May 7, 2014
Delhi beats Beijing, is the world's most polluted city : WHO study
Sahara Samay, May 7, 2014
Delhi has worst air pollution in the world: WHO
Indian Express, May 7, 2014
Delhi most polluted city in the world : WHO
The Pioneer, May 9, 2014
You don't breathe here, you gasp
Deccan Chronicle (Hyderabad), May 8, 2014
Polls, Metro make Hyderabad gasp for fresh air
News 24, May 8, 2014
India rejects Delhi has worst air pollution
The Pioneer, May 8, 2014
Delhi’s air most polluted in world: WHO
Newsweek Pakistan, May 9, 2014
India Admits New Delhi as Polluted as Beijing
Peninsula Qatar, May 9, 2014
WHO report saying New Delhi has worst air pollution rejected
Malay Mail Online, May 8, 2014
WHO: Delhi most polluted city

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