Question

You can see a column on the measure of air pollution in any national daily. Cut out the news item a week before Diwali, on the day of Diwali and two days after Diwali. Do you observe a significant difference in the value? Discuss in your class.

Answer 1

I observed the Air Quality Index (AQI) around Diwali and found a noticeable change in air pollution levels.

Time	Approx. AQI	Air Quality
One week before Diwali	180	Moderate/Poor
On the day of Diwali	350	Very Poor
Two days after Diwali	240	Poor

There was a significant rise in AQI on Diwali. This may happen because of bursting firecrackers, increased traffic, burning of waste and other pollutants released into the air. Two days after Diwali, the AQI generally decreases as smoke and pollutants disperse, although the air may still remain polluted. Air pollution often increases sharply around Diwali. Therefore, using fewer firecrackers, avoiding waste burning and using cleaner modes of transport can help reduce pollution.