A day after recording ‘severe’ level of pollution, the Capital on Wednesday registered a slight improvement in air quality as a result of wind speed picking up. Authorities, however, warned that the coming days may see a sharp deterioration in air quality in Delhi-NCR.

The overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi on Wednesday was recorded at 366, which falls in the ‘very poor’ category, by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

There was also a slight reduction in the levels of PM10 and PM2.5 pollutants.

A note issued by the Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA), however, stated that air quality may be hit in the coming days. “This is because there is a western disturbance system in north India, which is bringing moisture; and a cyclonic system on the eastern side, which is suppressing winds,” read the note.

“Besides this, there is increased burning of paddy straw in Punjab and Haryana, as is evident in images released by NASA; the direction of the wind is now from the northwest. All this, combined with Delhi-NCR’s own pollution sources, could lead to a spike in pollution in the coming 10 days,” it read.

Action against violators

Besides the various measures suggested by the EPCA to curb pollution, the authority had also told all State to constitute teams to patrol and impose fines on violators for garbage burning, industrial air pollution, dust mismanagement and visibly polluting vehicles.

The chief secretaries of the States have convened meetings and directed action for enforcement.

Meanwhile, doctors have said that recent studies have indicated that exposure to particulate air pollution may be associated with acute heart attack.

Experts said that this may be due in part to a sympathetic stress response, production of cytokines, and increased vulnerability to plaque rupture. Some of the pollutants that increase this risk include carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and small particulate matter, said K.K. Aggarwal, former president of the India Medical Association.

He said that short term exposure to particulate matter contributed to acute coronary events (heart attack) in patients with underlying coronary artery disease.

PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 increase risk of cardiovascular, stroke, respiratory, and COPD mortality, added Dr. Aggarwal.