India, Dec. 22 -- Everyday, thousands of people spend hours on the Capital's streets trying to make a living. For them, there is no escape from the pollution. HT spoke to five people who shared their insight into what it costs them.

Ronak Prasad, 50; book vendor, New Friends Colony

The easier question, said 50-year-old Ronak Prasad, is "What problems does the pollution not cause? Prasad, who has been working as a book vendor in New Friends Colony for 33 years, said he has developed a permanent cough and cold because of the increase in pollution. "The situation gets so bad that I don't have the heart to continue working. My head feels heavy, my eyes burn, and it becomes hard to breathe. I wear a mask when the pollution rises, but have to...