NEW DELHI: As toxic smog continues to engulf the national capital region, a new survey has found that 82 per cent of Delhi-NCR residents have at least one person in their close social circle suffering from serious health conditions that they attribute to long-term exposure to air pollution.The survey, conducted by community platform LocalCircles, revealed that 28 per cent of respondents said four or more people among their family members, friends, neighbours or colleagues are battling such ailments, reported PTI.According to the survey findings, the reported health conditions include asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung damage, heart failure, strokes and cognitive decline, which respondents linked to prolonged exposure to polluted air.The findings come as Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 498 on Monday, placing it in the higher range of the ‘severe’ category. Of the 40 monitoring stations in the city, air quality was classified as ‘severe’ at 38 stations and ‘very poor’ at two. Jahangirpuri recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 498. As per the central pollution control board (CPCB) classification, an AQI between 401 and 500 is considered ‘severe’, while readings above 300 already pose serious health risks. The AQI had climbed to 461 on Sunday, marking Delhi’s most polluted day this winter and the second-worst December air quality on record, with weak winds and low temperatures preventing dispersion of pollutants.The LocalCircles survey noted that air quality across large parts of Delhi-NCR has remained in the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories since late October, aggravating a public health crisis. Fine particulate matter, it said, has triggered a sharp rise in respiratory and cardiac ailments, particularly among children, the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions.Rising healthcare costs are also emerging as a concern. Nearly 73 per cent of respondents said they are anxious about affording medical treatment for themselves and their families if they continue living in the region amid recurring pollution episodes. While 8 per cent of respondents said they plan to move out of Delhi-NCR due to air pollution, a majority said they were compelled to stay because of work commitments, family responsibilities and other constraints.The survey received over 34,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. LocalCircles said it plans to share the findings with government stakeholders, calling for urgent action to address pollution sources and explore healthcare support measures, PTI reported.
