Pollution on the rise as temperature dips

Overcast skies and a distinct layer of smog marked another highly polluted day in Delhi which saw further increase in the level of suspended particulate matter, with the average reading of PM 2.5 touching 204 microgram per cubic metre, keeping the air quality 'very poor'.The air quality is expected to take a turn for the worse from tomorrow due to a combination of local and external factors including a dip in day-time temperature and a rise in moisture levels.The average readings of PM 2.5 and PM 10, fine particles that can embed deep into the lungs of a person giving rise to respiratory ailments, were 204 and 340 microgram per cubic metre respectively, a senior IMD official said."The situation will persist at least for the next two days. The days will be smoggy as the the early morning shallow fog won't dissipate and instead mix with the smoke and pollutants," the official said.But, as is the norm, the real time readings at various points of the day were much higher than the 24-hour average.