The annual average concentration of particulate matter 10 (PM10) in ambient air in Delhi is much above the notified standards. This information was given by the Minister of State for Environment and Forests (Independent), Ms Jayanthi Natarajan, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
She said this was noticed during the last three years due to construction and vehicle pollution. Further, the levels of PM10 are higher in Delhi due to geo-climatic conditions and its proximity to Thar desert.
The annual average levels of lead and sulphur dioxide are well within the limits and levels of NO2 are marginally exceeding the standards. Nitrogen dioxide is an emerging air pollutant in Delhi, she added. The ambient air quality in Delhi is monitored at 10 manual stations by Central Pollution Control Board and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, among others.