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Every winter, Delhi and its surrounding areas vanish under a thick blanket of smog, and this year is no different. The capital’s air has become so toxic that it has become difficult to breathe. With the air quality stuck in the ‘very poor’ range, air purifiers have turned into everyday essentials. But now, even they seem to be losing the battle against Delhi’s choking pollution. A recent photo circulating online shows an air purifier filter in Gurugram completely coated with layers of dust and dirt, which is a shocking reminder of how serious the situation has become. The image shows just a tiny clean patch, while the majority of the portion is trapped with dust. Along with the image, the individual wrote a sarcastic note about living in luxury apartments while paying a “premium for polluted air.” Viral Photo Shows Filter Covered In Dust And Dirt The post on X (Formerly Twitter) came with the caption, “This is my air purifier filter in Gurgaon. The land of Rs 200 crore apartments, glossy towers and lungs working overtime like interns at Big 4. Welcome to the city where we pay a premium for polluted air. Efficiency, but make it toxic.” This is my air purifier filter in Gurgaon. The land of ₹200 crore apartments, glossy towers & lungs working overtime like interns at Big 4. Welcome to the city where we pay premium for polluted air. Efficiency, but make it toxic. ?#Gurgaon #AirPollution #IndiaAirCrisis pic.twitter.com/pYhApZa5yv — Isha (@Lostinreverie7) November 3, 2025 Internet Reacts With Anger And Sarcasm Reacting to the post, a user wrote, “These high-end buildings often seal us inside with filtered air, ignoring the outside problem. This creates a bubble, making us forget the shared responsibility we have for our environment. True luxury should include clean, breathable air for everyone.” Another shared, “Pulmonologists must be very busy during these days in the NCR region.” “Since you are getting cleaner air than others, a new clean air cess of 10% will be charged on you,” a comment read. An individual stated, “It’s like breathing through a chimney.” Another mentioned, “Even if we take care of the vehicular, agricultural & industrial pollution. Most of Western & Central & northern India is not going to escape dust. That’s a geography issue. We didn’t have as much PM 2.5, CO/CO2 pollution till the early 90s. But A/C filters always looked like that.” When a user asked Grok whether the photo showed a filter from an air purifier or an air conditioner, the AI clarified that it appeared to be a dust filter from a split AC. It explained that such filters typically have a grid-like pattern and are designed to trap larger particles like dust, especially in highly polluted areas such as Gurgaon. Grok further noted that air purifier filters are usually pleated HEPA filters, which look completely different from the one in the image. Doctor Shares Tips On Using Air Purifiers Effectively Senior pulmonologist Dr Gopi Chand Khilnani, chairman of the PSRI Institute of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, told The Indian Express that air purifiers can help clean indoor air when used correctly. He explained that an effective purifier contains filters and special materials designed to trap gases and dust particles. For best results, the purifier should be suited to the size of the room, remain switched on continuously, and be placed close to the person using it. Dr. Khilnani also emphasised the importance of keeping doors and windows closed; frequent ventilation reduces the purifier’s effectiveness. While the World Health Organization doesn’t recognise air purifiers as a proven way to improve health, he believes they can still benefit older adults and those with heart or lung conditions.
