Overview AQI
Air quality standards are the fundamental basis that provide the regulatory framework for air pollution control. The air quality standard is a description of the level of air quality approved by the regulator. Authority as enforceable. The goal of developing standards is to offer reason for safety. To remove or reduce exposure to hazardous air, to protect public health from the harmful effects of air pollutants, and to guide national/local authorities in pollution management options. The Objective of the AQI is to measure the air quality in different locations based on the concentration of pollutants. Central pollution control board (CPCB) a new set of Indian National Air Quality Standards (INAQS) for 12 parameters, which are listed below the table, The first eight parameters in Table 1 have short-term (1/8/24 hrs) and annual standards (except for CO and O3), and the rest four parameters have only annual standards.
Table 1
| National air Quality index | |||||
| S.No. | Pollutants | Time weight average | Concentration ambient air | ||
| Industrial Residential Rural and other Area | Ecological Sensitive Area (Notified by Central Gov.) | Methods of measurement | |||
| 1 | Sulphur dioxide (So2), µg/M³ | Annual* 24 Hours** | 50 80 | 20 80 | Improved west and goeke Ultraviolet Fluorescence |
| 2 | Nitrogen Dioxide | Annual* 24 Hours** | 40 80 | 30 80 | Modified Jacob &hochhesiser(NA- Arsenate) chemiluminescence |
| 3 | Particulate matter (Size less then 10 Micron) | Annual* 24 Hours** | 60 100 | 60 100 | Gravimetric TOEM Beta attenuation |
| 4 | Particulate matter (Size less then 2.5 Micron) | Annual* 24 Hours** | 40 60 | 40 60 | Gravimetric TOEM Beta attenuation |
| 5 | Ozone | 8 Hours** 1 Hours** | 100 180 | 100 180 | UV Photometric Chemiluminescence Chemical Method |
| 6 | Lead | Annual* 24 Hours** | 0.50 1.0 | 0.50 1.0 | AAS/ICP method after sampling in EPM 2000 or equivalent filter paper ED-XRF using Teflon Filter |
| 7 | Carbon Monoxides | 8 Hours** 1 Hours** | 02 04 | 02 04 | Non Dispersive Infra Red (NDIR) Spectroscopy |
| 8 | Ammonia | Annual* 24 Hours** | 100 400 | 100 400 | Chemiluminescence Indophenol blue method |
| 9 | Benzene | Annual* | 5 | 5 | Gas chromatography based continuous analyzer Adsorption and Desorption followed by GC Analysis |
| 10 | Benzol Pyrene | Annual* | 1 | 1 | Solvent extraction Followed by HPLC/GC Analysis |
| 11 | Arsenic | Annual* | 6 | 6 | AAS/ICP method after sampling in EPM 2000 or equivalent filter paper |
| 12 | Nickel | Annual* | 20 | 20 | AAS/ICP method after sampling in EPM 2000 or equivalent filter paper |
Facts and History of Air quality index (AQI)
Air quality index (AQI) was developed in 1968 in the United States to understand the quality of air. If we are talking about India, it was launched on September 17, 2014, under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, which was also renamed in the same year during the Mission of Swach Barth Abhiyan under Shri Narender Modi’s government.
The main purpose of launching AQI is to Know the data or status of the air quality in a particular area, and it will be an aid in understanding the air quality for the common people as well. The government decided to educate the people as well, so it gave it one number, one colour, one description, shown below the table, with their Impacts, in detailed
| AQI | Associated Health Impacts |
| Good (0–50) | Minimal Impact |
| Satisfactory (51–100) | May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people |
| Moderate (101–200) | May cause breathing discomfort to the people with lung disease such as asthma and discomfort to people with heart disease, children and older adults |
| Poor (201–300) | May cause breathing discomfort to people on prolonged exposure and discomfort to people with heart disease with short exposure |
| Very Poor (301–400) | May cause respiratory illness to the people on prolonged exposure. Effect may be more pronounced in people with lung and heart diseases |
| Severe (401-500) | May cause respiratory effects even on healthy people and serious health impacts on people with lung/heart diseases. The health impacts may be experienced even during light physical activity |
Importance of Air Quality Index (AQI)
The Air Quality Index (AQI) plays an important role for India due to the nation serious problems with air pollution. India air quality has deteriorated due to increased urbanization industrial expansion and automobile emissions having a negative impact on both the environment and human health. AQI is an essential tool for determining the state of the air enabling or informed decision making and raising public awareness.
In India, where millions of people suffer from respiratory diseases and premature deaths due to pollution AQI serves as an early warning system, urging people to take protective measures during days with poor air quality. It helps also the policy makers to formulate effective pollution control strategies and regulations. Furthermore the transparency of AQI empowers citizens to demand cleaner air thereby fostering a culture of accountability.
India diverse geography and climatic conditions require AQI monitoring in different regions to ensure tailored interventions.The significance of more public transportation, cleaner energy sources, and higher pollution standards is highlighted. In short the importance of AQI lies in protecting public health promoting environmental stewardship and leading India towards sustainable development|
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