Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘satisfactory’ range for a second straight day on Tuesday, with the daily average air quality index (AQI) recorded at 86, an improvement from Monday’s reading of 88. This is Delhi’s cleanest air spell so far this year, aided by rain and strong winds since Sunday night, which have allowed particulate matter to settle.
Like Monday, Tuesday’s was one of Delhi’s lowest AQI since October 8 last year, when it was 80 (satisfactory). For May, this was the lowest in three years, since May 31, 2023, when it was recorded at 85 (satisfactory), according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The CPCB classifies air quality as “moderate” when the AQI is between 101 and 200, “poor” between 201 and 300, and “very poor” between 301 and 400. Beyond 400, air quality is termed “severe”.
CPCB data also showed ozone (O3) was the primary pollutant in Delhi’s air on Tuesday. Gases remained the dominant pollutants on Monday too, with NO2, O3 and CO emerging as the city’s lead pollutants on that day. In comparison, on Sunday, PM2.5 and PM10 were the lead pollutants alongside O3.
Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, said rain has a washout effect, often seen in the monsoon months, leading to pollutants settling while gases remain active in the air. “If we analyse CPCB data, PM2.5 remains dominant in January and February, but from March, PM10 becomes dominant as dust starts to rise. By July, we start to see gases emerge as lead pollutants, and the same is seen in this pre-monsoon period,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, said rain has a washout effect, often seen in the monsoon months, leading to pollutants settling while gases remain active in the air. “If we analyse CPCB data, PM2.5 remains dominant in January and February, but from March, PM10 becomes dominant as dust starts to rise. By July, we start to see gases emerge as lead pollutants, and the same is seen in this pre-monsoon period,” he said.
{{/usCountry}}May so far has seen three moderate air quality days and two satisfactory days. April had 19 moderate days, one satisfactory day and 10 poor air quality days.
Forecasts by the Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi show the AQI is likely to return to the ‘moderate’ category on Wednesday as rains abate in the region, and is likely to remain in this category till Friday.
“The outlook for the subsequent six days, from Saturday, shows the air quality is likely to be in the ‘moderate’ to ‘poor’ category,” it said.
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