Mumbai Tops India's Pollution List, Beats Delhi; What The Latest AQI Figures Show

Mumbai’s persistent heat and humidity have coincided with a rise in air pollution, putting the city fifth on a global list of the world’s most polluted urban centres and first among Indian cities featured in the ranking. The assessment by air quality monitoring platform iQAir comes after a rain-deficient monsoon and the early withdrawal of seasonal rainfall.

Mumbai registered an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 152 on Thursday, a level classified as unhealthy by iQAir, a US-based air quality monitoring organisation. Ground-level ozone (O3) was identified as the main pollutant behind the reading.

The city’s unusually high temperatures have added to concerns about air quality. According to a report in The Indian Express, Mumbai has experienced three of its hottest days in at least a decade this month, with maximum temperatures exceeding seasonal averages by 4-5°C on several days.

Weak Winds And High Temperatures May Be Contributing To Pollution

Atmospheric scientist Gufran Beig, chair professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), linked the conditions to an El Niño-like climate pattern, high temperatures and a marked slowdown in wind speed.