Fact check: Read somewhere that breathing in Delhi is equal to smoking 25 cigs per day

1. Summary of the results

The comparison between breathing Delhi's air and smoking cigarettes is supported by multiple scientific sources and medical experts. While the exact equivalency varies based on the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels:

• At regular high pollution levels, breathing Delhi's air equals smoking 25-30 cigarettes per day ^{[1] [2]}
• During extreme pollution events (AQI 494-500), it can equal 27 cigarettes ^[3]
• In severe cases (AQI 950-1000), the equivalency rises to 44-49 cigarettes per day ^{[4] [5]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original statement lacks crucial context about:

• Pollution Measurements:
• PM10 levels exceed limits by 10 times at 198 μg/m3 ^[6]
• PM2.5 levels reach 247 µg/m3, far above WHO's recommended 15 µg/m3 ^[1]
• During winter, pollution is particularly severe, with PM2.5 exceeding 100 μg/m3 95.2% of the time ^[7]
• Health Impacts:
• Life expectancy in Delhi has been reduced by 11.9 years ^[8]
• Effects include chest pain, breathlessness, and burning eyes ^[4]
• The pollution affects all age groups, including unborn children through maternal exposure ^{[2] [8]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the original statement isn't misleading, it understates the severity of the situation by:

• Not mentioning that the equivalency can be much worse during extreme pollution events ^{[4] [5]}
• Failing to acknowledge that the primary causes are vehicular emissions and industrial activities ^[6]
• Not highlighting that this is a year-round issue with significant seasonal variations ^[7]

The statement has been verified by prominent medical experts, including Dr. Arvind Kumar, a senior lung specialist ^[2], and is supported by calculations from Berkeley Earth ^[3], lending it strong credibility.