People living in Delhi-NCR are in bad condition these days due to air pollution. According to reports, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) level has crossed 450, which is a very dangerous level. 450 AQI level falls in the very serious category. The havoc of pollution is continuously increasing. It is becoming difficult for people to get out of the house. Unable to even breathe freely. Whoever you see is coughing and his condition is bad. There is a problem of burning sensation in the chest, eyes and throat. According to experts, this level of pollution is equivalent to smoking 10 to 15 cigarettes. At the same time, the AQI level of Ghaziabad is also very high. The AQI here has been recorded at 510.
Impact of increasing air pollution on health
According to experts, air pollution can badly damage the lungs. Lung function is affected. Your lungs may become weak. This also increases the risk of heart disease. If you are continuously exposed to this polluted air, you may suffer from problems like asthma, cancer, chronic bronchitis. People who already have asthma, lung disease, respiratory diseases, should not make the mistake of going out of the house at all.
What is AQI level good and bad?
0-50-(Good)- Little or no risk, no need to wear a mask.
51–100-(Moderate)- Moderate risk for sensitive individuals, sensitive people should avoid doing strenuous work outside for long periods of time.
101–150-(unhealthy for sensitive people)- Such people should avoid staying out for long.
151–200-(unhealthy)- Harmful to everyone’s health, wear a mask. Sensitive people should avoid exerting themselves outside for long periods of time. Normal people should also go out less.
201–300-(more unhealthy)- Health warning for the entire population, wear a mask. Active children and adults with respiratory problems should not go out at all.
301+ (dangerous)- Serious health implications for all, wear masks, do not go out unless necessary, everyone can be affected. This is an emergency condition for health.
Color to indicate AQI level good and bad
0-50- green color
51-100- yellow color
101-150- orange color
151-200- red color
201-300- purple color
300+- Maroon color
Which mask is beneficial to wear?
At the time of Covid-19, the condition was so dire that everyone protected themselves with masks. Wearing a mask was mandatory in those days. Even today, air pollution has reached dangerous levels and the air quality has become worse. In such a situation, experts are once again advising to wear masks. These days the air quality index in Delhi-NCR has reached dangerous levels. But, people are also helpless. They have to go out of the house to run the household. In such a situation, it is important to know what quality mask should be worn to keep oneself safe. Local quality cheap masks, surgical and cloth masks may not provide adequate protection from air pollution. These are not capable of preventing harmful particles and aerosols like PM2.5.
pollution filtration mask
Many protective face masks come with an N90, N95 or N99 rating. These numbers tell how fine particles (as small as 0.3 microns) these masks can prevent. An N95 mask blocks about 95% of fine particles. N90 to about 90%. If you want to protect yourself from airborne pollutants or infectious particles, KN95, FFP2 or N95 masks are the best option. The real effectiveness of any mask depends on its fit, that is, it is important that the mask fits properly. A good seal keeps the mask tightly stuck to the face while breathing, so that outside air cannot enter inside.
