National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Why in news?

• The World Health Organisation (WHO), in its first-ever update since 2005, has tightened global air pollution standards in recognition of the emerging science in the past decade that the impact of air pollution on health is much more serious than earlier envisaged.
• The move does not have an immediate effect in India as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) do not meet the WHO’s existing standards.

About National Ambient Air Quality Standards:

• Ambient air quality refers to the condition or quality of air surrounding us in the outdoors.
• National Ambient Air Quality Standards are the standards for ambient air quality set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that is applicable nationwide.
• The CPCB has been conferred this power by the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
• Ambient Air Quality Standards contains 12 pollutants (8 pollutants contained in National Air Quality Index and 4 others given below:)
  • Benzene
  • Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP)
  • Arsenic
  • Nickel

National Air Quality Index (AQI):

• Launched in 2014 to disseminate information on air quality
• Initiative under Swachh Bharat Mission
• The measurement of air quality is based on eight pollutants
• AQI has six categories of air quality.
  • These are: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe.
• AQI is considered as ‘One Number- One Colour-One Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity.
• 8 pollutants measured by AQI are :
  • Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm) or (PM10),
  • Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm) or (PM2.5),
  • Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2),
  • Sulphur Dioxide (SO2),
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO),
  • Ozone (O3),
  • Ammonia (NH3), and
  • Lead (Pb)

PRACTICE QUESTION

Which among the following pollutants comes under National Ambient Air Quality Standards?

1. Benzene

2. Ozone

3. Carbon Dioxide

4. Lead

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2,3 and 4 only

(c) 1,2 and 4 only

(d) 1,2,3 and 4

Answer