Delhi Pollution Crisis: Study Finds High Mercury and Microplastics in Air, raising new health concerns for millions of residents. A team from the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), Pune, has released the first detailed study on mercury levels in Delhi’s atmosphere.
The study, published by Springer, shows that Delhi’s air contained an average of 6.9 nanograms of mercury per cubic metre. This is far above the global averages of 1.7 for the Northern Hemisphere and 1.3 for the Southern Hemisphere. Researchers linked 72% to 92% of mercury emissions to human activity such as fossil fuel use, industries, and traffic. Natural sources like soil re-emission made up 8% to 28%.
According to the World Health Organization, mercury ranks among the top 10 chemicals that threaten public health. While Delhi’s mercury levels stayed below WHO danger limits, the city’s residents face higher long-term exposure compared to many global cities.
The same study also pointed to microplastics in Delhi’s air. Researchers found these tiny particles in PM10, PM2.5, and PM1 categories. Exposure nearly doubled in summer compared to winter, increasing risks of lung inflammation, bronchitis, and even cancer.
Delhi Pollution Crisis: Study Finds High Mercury and Microplastics in Air, underlining urgent need for stronger monitoring and policy action.
