How to exercise safely when your city's AQI is bad

Experts caution against high intensity workouts and share practical advice

- Shrenik Avlani

In early November, New Delhi breached the 700-mark in AQI (air quality index), setting a new record for pollution this year.

And yet, people of the National Capital Region (NCR) are being offered plenty of outdoor sports events to test their fitness, strength and endurance levels. Things aren’t looking that good in most other metros either. Almost every Indian city and town reports an AQI above 100, which means that the air quality is poor at best. AQI levels above 150 are considered unhealthy, beyond 300 is hazardous and anything above 400 is considered severely hazardous.