Delhi's air is no doubt polluted and gains from CNG have been frittered away. But the air in some residential areas can be far more toxic than we imagine. A study by school of environmental sciences at JNU, published in last month's Atmospheric Pollution Research (APR) journal, has found the content of chromium (Cr) and nickel (Ni) higher than the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) standards. In short, continued exposure to these inhalable carcinogenic metals can lead to grave health risks in future.

China said Friday that two-thirds of its cities currently fail to meet new air-quality standards introduced this week that are based on the pollutants most harmful to health.
Under pressure from a worried Chinese public, the government this week issued revised air-quality targets based on the smallest particulates, which make up much of the country’s air pollution.
Cities will have four years to get their pollution levels down to the new limits, which cover levels of ozone and particulates measuring 2.5 micrometres or less, known as PM 2.5.

China’s cabinet ordered on Wednesday new air-quality standards to measure the most dangerous form of particulate matter, following a public outcry over worsening air pollution.
The State Council told 31 major regional capitals including Beijing and Shanghai to begin monitoring PM2.5 particulate, or fine particles measuring 2.5 microns in diameter, this year, the cabinet said on its website.
The new measure — which had been demanded by environmental campaigners — would be compulsory for 113 more cities in 2013, it said.

Non-completion of the Western and Eastern Peripheral Expressway to divert traffic of heavy vehicles is costing the national Capital’s health dearly. According to a study, the city has the highest level of air pollutants called particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10). To make matters worse, the PM10 levels have risen during the past three years, while many other cities, including Chennai, Kolkata and Mumbai, witnessed a drop.