Amdavadis ‘smoke’ 2 cigarettes worth of pollution every day

A group of environmental engineering students in Ahmedabad have developed a bot that converts air pollution data into units of cigarettes smoked daily. The air quality index in different areas of the city on the weekend accounted for the equivalent of smoking two cigarettes. Experts warn that air quality deteriorates in winter, leading to respiratory and allergy illnesses. November and March are the months with the highest pollution levels, with an average day being equivalent to smoking 3.3 cigarettes. Patients with respiratory illnesses are particularly vulnerable to the effects of pollution.