07
Dec
Kolkata's air quality crisis has been spotlighted in Greenpeace India's latest report, "Beyond North India: NO₂ Pollution and Health Risks in Seven Major Indian Cities". The report reveals alarming nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) levels in the city, with Ballygunge recording the highest annual average in 2023, exceeding WHO guidelines for 133 days. Nitrogen dioxide, primarily emitted by vehicular traffic and fossil fuel combustion, poses severe health risks, including asthma, respiratory irritation, and increased vulnerability to lung diseases. The report warns that prolonged NO₂ exposure endangers Kolkata's children, who constitute 13% of the population, with a 2015 study linking the pollutant to…