PM2.5, particulate matter that is less than 2.5 micrometers in diameter, is especially dangerous because it exacerbates cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, contributing to the premature deaths of over three million people worldwide every year. During my recent survey of India, I experienced this growing problem first hand as I traveled what many argue to be the country with the worst air pollution.

When I arrived in Delhi the pollution was noticeable and ever present. The air quality hit worryingly high numbers as it is always worse in winter when fuel is burned for heating. On one day in particular, I was outside either walking or in the car for most of the day and I developed what my contacts there called a “pollution headache.” It was no wonder that the expatriate family I had dinner with that night expressed concern about their children, young kids being particularly vulnerable to air pollution, growing up in Delhi. As you can see from my photo below, the sky appears flat and grey, and visibility is limited even in open green spaces.

This post is taken from On-site Insight, AIRINC’s in-house global mobility blog. On-site Insight provides AIRLinc subscribers with an exclusive “behind-the-surveys” insight into new and existing expatriate locations based on commentary and photos from our global research team. Included is information on general living conditions as well as changing costs for both goods and services and housing and utilities, along with much, much more!  To find out more, click here