And why won't it? The levels of particulate matter in the air (measure with two commonly-used measures, PM 2.5 and PM 10) hit 999 micrograms per cubic meter, while the safe limits for those pollutants are 60 and 100, respectively (I know right!). The state government then went on to declare a health emergency in the capital. It's no wonder that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has listed Delhi as the sixth most polluted city in the world!
This was something residents could see with your naked eyes – when you stepped out, the familiar dusty smog sends you running swiftly back into your homes. This, however, was an extreme situation that grabbed our attention at its worst. Have you ever given a thought to what kind of pollution we are exposed to on a normal day where pollution in the North of India isn't making headlines?
Can you imagine the range of really harmful pollutants you come in contact with even when you are inside your homes? And on a normal day, no less? A study conducted by Dyson found that these pollutants also include cancer-causing compounds, known as carcinogens.
The UK-based technology company recently carried out a study in Delhi-NCR to examine the level of indoor pollution found in households in the region. Abi Stringer, a design engineer at Dyson and a member of the team that carried out the study, said that indoor air pollution is now a growing concern everywhere in the world, and is could be overlooked in places with a very visible pollution problem, like in Delhi and Gurgaon.
Twelve households in Delhi and Gurgaon were studied over a period of 3-5 months. The research team found that 91 percent of the homes they studied in Delhi-NCR had formaldehyde. This cancer-causing chemical has a range of short-term and long-term effects, as per a report by National Cancer Institute.
In the short-term, it can cause a burning sensation in the eyes, nose, and throat; coughing; wheezing; nausea; and skin irritation. When you are in contact with formaldehyde for extended periods of time, "it can cause cancer in humans," according to NCI.
Where does formaldehyde come from in our homes?
The sources of indoor pollution are often materials or furniture that give off pollutants under certain conditions. In homes, pressed wood panels, antiseptics and cleaning agents, carpets, permanent press fabrics, cigarettes, cosmetics, paints and varnishes are a few things that bring formaldehyde out of hiding and into the air, Abi says. Unlike smoke, some indoor pollutants (formaldehyde included) can neither be seen, nor gotten rid easily.
Other pollutants commonly found in houses were dust mites, moulds and bacteria. Abi says that dust mites feed on dead skin cells and can contain highly-allergenic proteins that, when inhaled, can trigger asthma and other allergic conditions.
She adds that while everyone is aware of outdoor pollution, it is equally important to make people aware of what dangers lurk in the confines and comfort of their own houses – and how harmful they can be.