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Tuesday brought residents of the world's most polluted city were faced with exposed to severely hazardous air that registered in the "alarming" level.

Record-Breaking Pollution Measurements

Several parts of the city recorded an AQI exceeding 500, which equals a tenfold increase over the recommended threshold set by the global health authority.

Particular areas, readings of toxic particulate matter soared to of 1,800, equating to fifteen to twenty times higher than safe standards.

Pyrotechnics Ban and Recent Changes

For the past four years, authorities had maintained a total prohibition on the sale and use of pyrotechnics during the Festival of Lights due to their significant contribution to the deadly pollution that covers the metropolis as colder weather begins.

Yet earlier this year, the current local government approached the highest court to propose a modification of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – historically criticized by environmental experts as being only about 30% less polluting – as a compromise between "tradition and public health".

Legal Decision and Reality

To the disappointment of public health and environmental activists, judges approved the request, stipulating that green firecrackers could be ignited during limited time windows throughout the celebrations.

During the celebrations, there was considerable disregard of the designated hours across the city, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the eco-friendly version.

Several monitoring devices throughout the capital showed pollution peaking around late evening to the most severe measurements recorded during the festival in at least the past three years.

International Effects

The proliferation of pyrotechnics during the festival also initiated a controversy with adjacent Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's the Punjab region partly blaming worsening atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on hazardous particles traveling from across the border following the events.

Chronic Environmental Issue

Extremely elevated concentrations of pollution in the city have persisted as a serious issue for over a decade and a half, with the situation gradually deteriorating.

During the festival period, the levels of hazardous particles in the environment has been documented to spike to significantly exceeding the most severe readings ever recorded in China's capital, which was previously viewed as the globally most contaminated city.

Multiple Contamination Factors

This crisis in the capital is caused by a convergence of various sources including heavy vehicle emissions, construction debris, development work, rubbish burning and pollutants from agricultural fires in nearby areas of Punjab and Haryana.

Within these states, rural residents regularly burn crop residue to expedite field preparation, producing hazardous haze that becomes contained over the city as cooler air sets in.

Health and Economic Consequences

Both financial and medical consequences on the nearly 33 million residents calling home the capital region is enormous, according to numerous investigations.

These hazardous conditions causes high levels of nervous system, heart and circulatory and lung disorders, and can potentially cause cancer.

The pollution is projected to be accounting for 10,000 premature fatalities each year in the city.