Breathing Delhi’s toxic air is like smoking 14 cigarettes a day, new data reveals

New Delhi: Delhi's air quality continues to worsen and so does Mumbai's. The AQI is fluctuating between the 'very poor' and 'severe' category. The situation is equally bad in other Indian cities.

As air quality worsens, a new data from AQI.IN offers a clear way to understand the impact of pollution exposure in terms of cigarettes smoked per day. In other words, the data shows how much pollution one inhales by comparing it to the number of cigarettes one would smoke in a day. Using the globally accepted PM2.5-to-cigarette equivalence model, the analysis turns complex air quality readings into an easy-to-understand and relatable health comparison.

As per AQI.IN’s real-time data, the average PM2.5 concentrations is the highest in Delhi. This often has been recorded beyond 300 micrograms per cubic metre during recent weeks. Using the conversion formula — which treats 22 micrograms of PM2.5 per cubic metre as equal to smoking one cigarette per day — this means an average Delhi resident inhales the equivalent of around 13 to 14 cigarettes a day simply by breathing the city’s air.

Backed by coastal winds, Mumbai is placed better. However, Mumbai still records worrying levels of 80 to 90 micrograms per cubic metre. This is equal to smoking roughly four cigarettes a day. In Bengaluru, with PM2.5 levels averaging around 50 micrograms per cubic metre, the pollution exposure is equal to smoking about two to three cigarettes per day. Chennai averages almost 40 micrograms per cubic metre, which is equal to smoking roughly two cigarettes a day.

The cigarette equivalent is symbolic. But it offers a simple way to understand the health risks that the fine particulate matter poses. Respiratory as well as cardiovascular diseases and reduced life expectancy are linked to prolonged exposure to high PM2.5 levels.

Studies indicate that regular exposure to 22 micrograms per cubic metre of PM2.5, which is equal to smoking one cigarette a day, can hugely spike the risk of causing chronic health problems over a period of time.

"At AQI.IN, we use Berkeley Earth’s benchmark to translate PM2.5 levels into cigarette equivalents,” a spokesperson from AQI.IN said. "According to their research, exposure to 22 µg/m³ of PM2.5 for a day is roughly equal to smoking one cigarette. "Using this formula, our system automatically converts real-time air quality readings into the number of cigarettes a person ‘smokes’ just by breathing the city’s air. It’s a simple yet powerful way to help people grasp the severity of pollution in relatable terms."

The differences between cities underline how geography, weather, and local emissions go a long way in determining air quality. In Delhi, the pollutants get trapped near the surface because of its landlocked geography, density of traffic and winter temperature inversions. Mumbai and Chennai have an advantage from coastal winds that help disperse the pollutants drifting in the air. Bengaluru’s high elevation and abundance of green cover help prevent a build-up of the pollutants.

AQI.IN data suggests that at present, no major Indian city meets the World Health Organisation’s stipulated safe PM2.5 limit of five micrograms per cubic metre. Every urban zone still exceeds safe standards, indicating that air pollution continues to have a huge impact on people's life and their health across the country.

Experts underlined that the cigarette analogy or comparison is not a medical equivalence but a communication tool to help people visualise the danger which is otherwise almost invisible.

Air pollution and smoking impact the body differently. However, the long-term health impact of breathing fine particulate matter are comparably serious. "The intent is not alarm but understanding,” the AQI.IN spokesperson added. "When data becomes relatable, awareness leads to action.”

With its expanding network of real-time air quality monitors, AQI.IN is making local pollution data more accessible to the public, researchers, and policymakers. AQI.IN's dashboards and mobile app allow users track air quality levels in real time, helping plug data gaps in smaller towns and urban zones -- tier II and III cities.

The data reveals one harsh truth: Every Indian living in a major city in the country is breathing toxic air. Even in comparatively cleaner pockets, the pollution exposure is equal to smoking several cigarettes per day.

By presenting data in a simple and relatable way, AQI.IN is trying to raise public awareness and push collective action for cleaner air. It's awareness and understanding of the pollution exposure that's the first step towards habitable cities -- which are healthier and sustainable.