Percentage of Delhi-NCR families who have visited a doctor or a hospital due to a pollution ailment doubled from 22% to 44% within a week

November 16, 2021, New Delhi: Delhi-NCR has now experienced over 2 weeks of toxic air with someone in their families suffering from breathlessness, cough, congestion, burning eyes, and many are visiting a doctor or a hospital for the treatment from these pollution-related ailments. The AQI has ranged between 300 – 1,000 across 5 cities, including Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. These cities are fighting the most toxic air as farmers of neighbouring states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh burn stubble to get the field ready for the next crop. The crackers and the regular sources of emissions like power plants and vehicle on roads have only made the situation worse.

The LocalCircles survey conducted last week with inputs from from residents of Delhi-NCR had indicated that 4 in 5 families had someone who was experiencing pollution-related ailments, and that 22% of families had someone who had already visited a doctor or a hospital due to a pollution-related ailment. With another full week of toxic air, with AQI touching 900 in parts of Delhi-NCR on Thursday and Friday, LocalCircles conducted another survey to understand the situation from the perspective of the residents of Delhi-NCR about the kind of ailments they are experiencing due to air pollution. It also tried to find out an aggregate percentage of residents across 5 cities have visited the doctor due to pollution-related ailments. The survey also tried to gather the pulse of Delhi-NCR residents if lockdown would be a favourable measure to bring down the pollution level. The survey received more than 25,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. 62% respondents were men while 38% respondents were women.

86% families in Delhi-NCR have someone who is experiencing 1 or more ailments due to polluted air

At the end of the 1st week of this month, 80% of families had indicated that 1 or more members in the family were experiencing pollution-related ailments like breathing difficulty, congestion, cough, sore throat, burning eyes, etc. At the end of the 2nd weeka similar question was asked to Delhi-NCR residents about the kind of ailments they or the members of their family are now experiencing due to air pollution. In response, 32% said they have “(1) sore throat/cough/congestion/burning eyes”, 7% said have “(2) headache, sleep disruption, etc.”, and 20% have “(3) breathing difficulty”. Breaking down the poll, 7% have “1 & 2” ailments, another 7% have “1 & 3”, and 13% have all “1, 2 & 3” ailments due to hazardous air quality in Delhi-NCR. Only 7% said they have “No impact”, and another 7% couldn’t say. On an aggregate basis, 86% of families in Delhi-NCR now have someone who is experiencing 1 or more ailments due to polluted air. This question in the survey received 8,866 responses.

59% families in Delhi-NCR have 1 or more members having sore throat/cough/congestion/burning eyes due to polluted air

If reasons given by Delhi-NCR residents are aggregated as many individuals are facing multiple conditions, 59% have “Sore throat/cough/congestion/burning eyes due to polluted air. Another 40% of residents are facing “Breathing difficulty”, and 27% are having “Headache, sleep disruption, etc.”

44% citizens say they or someone in their family have already visited a doctor or a hospital regarding an air pollution-related ailment

As suggested by doctors, this year is different as many in Delhi-NCR were impacted by the lethal Delta variant of COVID and hence they are more vulnerable to air pollution. Most hospitals across Delhi-NCR have reported an increase in cases of patients visiting due to pollution-related ailments in the last 10 days. The following question asked Delhi-NCR residents on how they or their family members are dealing with the air pollution. In response, 33% said “1 or more of us have visited a doctor”, and 11% said “1 or more of us have visited a doctor”. On the other hand, 56% of Delhi-NCR residents said they are “having health ailments due to pollution but not visited doctor or hospital”. On an aggregate basis, the findings indicate that 44% of citizens say they or someone in their family have already visited a doctor or a hospital regarding an air pollution-related ailment. This question received 7,995 responses.

Percentage of Dehi-NCR citizens who have visited a doctor or a hospital due to pollution ailments rose by 100% within a week

At the end of the week 1 of this month, about 22% of families had reported someone in the family visiting a doctor or a hospital due to a pollution-related ailment. At the end of 2nd week, there has been a whopping 100% increase in this number with 44% respondents now saying that some one in the family has visited a doctor or a hospital in the last 2 weeks due to a pollution-related ailment.

Residents of Delhi-NCR currently split almost even about enforcing 3 days complete lockdown to reduce air pollution

On November 6th, Chief Justice of India said that Delhi Government may want to consider a lockdown in Delhi given the air pollution situation. The To understand if the residents of Delhi-NCR support the move to implement 3 days of complete lockdown with immediate effect given the hazardous air quality. In response, 48% said “Yes”, and 52% said “No”. This means that residents of Delhi-NCR are currently split almost even about enforcing 3 days of complete lockdown to reduce air pollution. This question in the survey received 8,170 responses.

In summary, the impact of air pollution on people has worsened in the 2nd week of November, with 86% of families having 1 or more individuals experiencing pollution-related ailments. Also, the percentage of families who have visited a doctor or a hospital in the last 2 weeks has doubled after an increase from 22% to 44% of families now seeking help. As far as the issue of implementing a lockdown in Delhi-NCR for 3 days is concerned, people are divided almost even in their opinion as many have expressed that the primary contributor of high AQI is the stubble burning and implementing a lockdown in Delhi will not help with the same. Those in favour of the lockdown believe that while stubble burning pollution is something that much can’t be done in a very short period of time, limiting vehicles and other activities like construction etc. will largely help in reducing pollution.

LocalCircles will escalate the findings of this survey with Central Pollution Control Board, National Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and the leadership of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad.

Survey Demographics

The survey received more than 25,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Ghaziabad and Faridabad. 62% respondents were men while 38% respondents were women. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.