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Delhi has a high concentration of heavy metals in its air, exposing the residents, especially children, to a range of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, a study by TERI (The Energy and Resources Institute) has said. The study showed that in October 2019, when Delhi’s pollution levels start getting worse, the concentration of zinc in the city’s PM 2.5 (particulate matter with diameter less than 2.5 micrometres) was 379 ng/m3 (nanogram per cubic metre of air), this increased to 615 ng/m3 in September 2020. The study was carried out in six cities across India, with different air pollution ecologies Delhi (megacity), Ludhiana (high industrial activities), Patiala (high agricultural and biomass burning), Panchkula (PM 2.5 attained city), Vishakapatnam (coastal region) and Jaisalmer (desert).