Home > Topics > Smog

smog

Smog is a term that becomes the buzzword in North India during winters. Deteriorating air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region during winters is directly attributed to smog. Coined by combining smoke and fog, smog is an air pollutant with extremely harmful effect on all forms of life. Smog not only has smoke, fog, dust, Particulate Matters (PM) 10 and 2.5 but also includes other pollutants like carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, ozone, industrial emissions, vehicular emissions, forest and agricultural fires etc. PM 10 and PM 2.5 are extremely hazardous and they can easily enter the human lung leading to severe respiratory complications.

While there are several reasons for the formation of smog, the one in North India during winter is primarily caused by farmers in Haryana an Punjab burning stubble in their fields. It is usually compounded by vehicular and industrial emissions along with smoke and pollutants generated by bursting of crackers during Diwali. Smog's formation is depended on several factors including temperature, sunshine and wind condition.

Dr. Henry Antoine Des Voeux is often credited with inventing the term smog in his 1905 paper, "Fog and Smoke" which he had prepared for a meeting of the Public Health Congress. But a Los Angeles Times article published in January 19, 1893 claimed that the term was first used by "a witty English writer."

Those suffering from asthma, bronchitis, other respiratory ailments and cardiac problems are the worst affected by smog with infants, children and old people being in the highest risk category. The common issues that people face during smog are eye and throat irritation, wheezing, coughing, dryness of protective membranes of your nose and throat along with headaches. Prolonged exposure to smog also leads to inflamed lungs which can further result in blood clots and heart attack or stroke. Smog is one of the reasons behind lung cancer too and also has an adverse effect on our body's resistance leading to people falling ill frequently. Smog also blocks the sun resulting decreased UV radiation which in turn affects our body's ability to synthesise Vitamin D. Low-visibility in smog also leads to road accidents.

Extra care must be taken to protect the eyes and washing them clean at a regular interval is advised. Experts often compare the smog situation in the NCR to a ‘gas chamber’ and warn people from venturing out. Schools are routinely closed in the region to protect children from smog's harmful effects. It also hits the economy as flights, trains and road traffic are affected.

Delhi's Air Quality Remains in 'Hazardous' Category; Overall AQI Recorded at 426
India.com News Desk | November 9, 2018 8:43 AM IST
New Delhi: Delhi's air quality continued to remain in 'hazardous' category on Friday, a day after th...
Delhi's Air Quality Remains in 'Hazardous' Category; Overall AQI Recorded at 426
indiacom
2018-11-08T21:43:18+00:00
2018-11-08T21:43:18+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi: Thick Fog Engulfs National Capital; Air Quality Deteriorates to 'Hazardous' Category Ahead of Diwali
India.com News Desk | November 5, 2018 9:08 AM IST
New Delhi: The national capital on Monday recorded worst air quality of the season as the Air Qualit...
Delhi: Thick Fog Engulfs National Capital; Air Quality Deteriorates to 'Hazardous' Category Ahead of Diwali
indiacom
2018-11-04T22:08:14+00:00
2018-11-05T00:18:33+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Pollution: As Air Quality Turns 'Severe', EPCA Mulls Ban on Private Vehicles, Halts Construction Work From Nov 1
Abhinav Gupta | October 30, 2018 10:12 PM IST
New Delhi: As Delhi s air quality turned severe on Tuesday for the first time this season with stubb...
Delhi Pollution: As Air Quality Turns 'Severe', EPCA Mulls Ban on Private Vehicles, Halts Construction Work F
indiacom
2018-10-30T11:12:43+00:00
2018-10-30T11:18:40+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Pollution: NCR Chokes as Stubble Burning Worsens Air Quality, SC Acts Tough Against Old Vehicles
India.com News Desk | October 29, 2018 11:37 PM IST
New Delhi: The alarming level of air pollution chocked the Delhi NCR region further on Monday as hea...
Delhi Pollution: NCR Chokes as Stubble Burning Worsens Air Quality, SC Acts Tough Against Old Vehicles
indiacom
2018-10-29T12:37:42+00:00
2018-10-29T12:37:42+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Witnessed Poor to Severe Air Quality For 398 Days in Last Three Years: CPCB
India.com News Desk | August 27, 2018 11:10 PM IST
New Delhi: The national capital has experienced poor to severe air quality for a total of 398 days o...
Delhi Witnessed Poor to Severe Air Quality For 398 Days in Last Three Years: CPCB
indiacom
2018-08-27T12:10:13+00:00
2018-08-27T12:53:17+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Winters: Cold Wave Grips National Capital, Fog Continues to Disrupt Rail Traffic; Air Quality Dips to 'Very Poor'
India.com News Desk | December 26, 2017 9:35 AM IST
New Delhi, Dec 26: Delhi continued to shiver as the temperature dipped to 9 degrees and cold wave gr...
Delhi Winters: Cold Wave Grips National Capital, Fog Continues to Disrupt Rail Traffic; Air Quality Dips to '
indiacom
2017-12-25T22:35:37+00:00
2017-12-25T22:37:27+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Pollution: Air Quality Back at 'Severe' Level as Smog Makes a Comeback
India.com News Desk | December 22, 2017 8:18 AM IST
New Delhi, Dec 22: The air quality of Delhi on Thursday dipped back to the 'severe' level with a sha...
Delhi Pollution: Air Quality Back at 'Severe' Level as Smog Makes a Comeback
indiacom
2017-12-21T21:18:14+00:00
2017-12-21T21:21:00+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Pollution: What is an Anti-smog Gun?
India.com News Desk | December 20, 2017 3:10 PM IST
New Delhi, December 20: The Delhi government tested the smog gun on Wednesday at Anand Vihar, one of...
Delhi Pollution: What is an Anti-smog Gun?
indiacom
2017-12-20T04:10:11+00:00
2017-12-20T07:37:22+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Pollution: Air Quality Dips to Severe; 20 Trains Delayed, 10 Cancelled Due to Poor Visibility
India.com News Desk | December 6, 2017 9:25 AM IST
New Delhi, Dec 6: Air Quality in Delhi further turned severe with a sharp rise in the particulate ma...
Delhi Pollution: Air Quality Dips to Severe; 20 Trains Delayed, 10 Cancelled Due to Poor Visibility
indiacom
2017-12-05T22:25:36+00:00
2017-12-05T22:34:57+00:00
Smog
India.com
Cyclone Ockhi May Turn Out to be a Boon For Delhi, Likely to Clear Smog And Air Pollution
India.com News Desk | December 5, 2017 10:05 PM IST
New Delhi, Dec 5: The Cyclone Ockhi may have left a trail of destruction in Kerala and Tamil Nadu an...
Cyclone Ockhi May Turn Out to be a Boon For Delhi, Likely to Clear Smog And Air Pollution
indiacom
2017-12-05T11:05:03+00:00
2017-12-05T11:05:03+00:00
Smog
India.com
IPL 2018: Delhi Daredevils Matches May Get Shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Due to Delhi's Smog
India.com Sports Desk | December 5, 2017 8:37 PM IST
New Delhi: Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, Delhi Daredevils home matches in next year's cash-...
IPL 2018: Delhi Daredevils Matches May Get Shifted to Thiruvananthapuram Due to Delhi's Smog
indiacom
2017-12-05T09:37:08+00:00
2017-12-05T09:37:08+00:00
Smog
India.com
Sri Lankan Cricketers Wear Masks on Day 2 of Test Match against India; Here is How the Twitterati reacted
Shruti Venkatesh | December 4, 2017 2:29 PM IST
The pollution levels in Delhi have been a cause of concern over the past few months. The airborne pa...
Sri Lankan Cricketers Wear Masks on Day 2 of Test Match against India; Here is How the Twitterati reacted
indiacom
2017-12-04T03:29:17+00:00
2017-12-04T03:29:17+00:00
Smog
India.com
Chinese Man Plans to Tackle Beijing Smog With Hand-Held Fans
India.com News Desk | November 27, 2017 5:47 PM IST
Beijing, November 27: A man in China has proposed the government a bizarre plan involving 1.5 millio...
Chinese Man Plans to Tackle Beijing Smog With Hand-Held Fans
indiacom
2017-11-27T06:47:51+00:00
2017-11-27T06:48:37+00:00
Smog
India.com
Air Quality in Delhi NCR 'Severe'; Pollution Likely to Worsen in Next Three Days
India.com News Desk | November 26, 2017 10:46 AM IST
New Delhi, Nov 26: The Air Quality Index in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) may get wors...
Air Quality in Delhi NCR 'Severe'; Pollution Likely to Worsen in Next Three Days
indiacom
2017-11-25T23:46:42+00:00
2017-11-26T00:05:57+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi: 33 Trains Delayed, Five Rescheduled And Three Cancelled Due To Low Visibility
India.com News Desk | November 25, 2017 8:39 AM IST
New Delhi, Nov 25: A total of 33 trains were running late while 5 others were rescheduled and three ...
Delhi: 33 Trains Delayed, Five Rescheduled And Three Cancelled Due To Low Visibility
indiacom
2017-11-24T21:39:46+00:00
2017-11-24T21:46:02+00:00
Smog
India.com
Pakistan Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif Writes to Amarinder Singh, Appeals to Tackle Smog Problem
India.com News Desk | November 21, 2017 8:40 PM IST
New Delhi, Nov 21: Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif has appealed his Indian counterpart...
Pakistan Punjab CM Shehbaz Sharif Writes to Amarinder Singh, Appeals to Tackle Smog Problem
indiacom
2017-11-21T09:40:02+00:00
2017-11-21T09:58:00+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Air Pollution: Dust From Gulf Largely Responsible For Smog, Stubble-burning Contributes 25 Per Cent, Finds Study
India.com News Desk | November 17, 2017 12:59 PM IST
New Delhi, Nov 17: A study by the government's air quality research body SAFAR found that dust trave...
Delhi Air Pollution: Dust From Gulf Largely Responsible For Smog, Stubble-burning Contributes 25 Per Cent, Fi
indiacom
2017-11-17T01:59:02+00:00
2017-11-17T01:59:27+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Smog: Officials Surrender, Say 'Only God Can Save us' as Pollution Level Scales 12 Times Above Recommended Limit
India.com News Desk | November 17, 2017 10:42 AM IST
New Delhi, Nov 17: We re now praying, only God can save us, said of the government officials as the ...
Delhi Smog: Officials Surrender, Say 'Only God Can Save us' as Pollution Level Scales 12 Times Above Recommen
indiacom
2017-11-16T23:42:33+00:00
2017-11-16T23:45:52+00:00
Smog
India.com
Delhi Air Pollution: Smog Continues to Keep Visibility Low, 40 Trains Delayed, 6 Cancelled
India.com News Desk | November 17, 2017 9:06 AM IST
New Delhi, Nov 17: Delhi is yet to get relief from the smog blanket even as other parts of North Ind...
Delhi Air Pollution: Smog Continues to Keep Visibility Low, 40 Trains Delayed, 6 Cancelled
indiacom
2017-11-16T22:06:49+00:00
2017-11-16T22:32:36+00:00
Smog
India.com
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on November 19 as High Court Gives go Ahead
India.com News Desk | November 16, 2017 3:23 PM IST
New Delhi, Nov 16: The Delhi High Court has allowed the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon to proceed as pla...
Airtel Delhi Half Marathon on November 19 as High Court Gives go Ahead
indiacom
2017-11-16T04:23:07+00:00
2017-11-16T04:23:07+00:00
Smog
India.com