NATIONAL
AIR QUALITY INDEX
National
Air Quality Index (AQI):
·
Part of the Swachch Bharat Abhiyan,
Modi wants to inform public about the pollution and its ill-effects
·
Presently, Government agencies publish
air-quality data with technical - jargon like PM2.5, PM10. Common man cannot
understand
·
The new Air Quality Index (AQI) will
use color-coded table to show air-quality and its effect on health. Thus even
common man can understand easily; their USP being “One Number- One Colour-One
Description.”
·
Environment and Central Pollution
control board. (2014, October.)
·
Will be monitor air quality in 46
cities having above 10 lakh population + all state capitals.
·
After 5 years, entire India will be
monitored.
·
Earlier index only monitored three
parameters. New AQI will monitor 8 type of pollutants
·
For short-term 24 hours averaging
period.
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AQI
will monitor these 8 pollutants
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PM10
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Coarse Pollutants with a diameter of
10 microns or less. Mostly from dust and smoke. Create breathing difficulty
particularly among asthma patients and elderly.
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PM2.5
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Respirable particles with a diameter
of 2.5 microns or less. They float in air air for weeks, due to small size,
thus smog and haze problem.
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They go deep in lungs and even pass
in blood.
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Result? chronic bronchitis, lung
cancer and heart disease.
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For this index, London 16; Delhi 153
(smaller no. means cleaner air)
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NO2
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Nitrogen dioxide. Lung irritant.
Harmful to textile fibres and metals.
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Red haze in traffic
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Damages plant leaves, slows down
photosynthesis.
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SO2
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Asthama, bronchitis, emphysema etc.
respiratory diseases
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Eye irritation and tears.
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Stiffness of flowerbuds. They fall
from plant.
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CO
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Carbon Monoxide binds with
haemoglobin. Thus, Blood carries less oxygen. Result? headache, nausia, weak
eyesight, premature birth, abortion, deformed babies.
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O3
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Ozone is a toxic gas. Dryness of
eyes, chestpain, cough.
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Collectively Ozone, PAN, Nitric
oxide, Formaldehyde result in “photochemical smog”.
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Photochemical smog occurs when
sunlight acts on vehicle pollutants
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Photochemical smog=> rubber
cracking, plant damages, metals corroded.
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NH3
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Ammonia in air + NOX, SOx=>PM 2.5
and PM 2.5 have very small size, they float in air for weeks=>smog and
haze problem.
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Ammonia in water=>Eutrophication,
Algae blooms.
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Pb
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Lead Interferes with red blood
cells.
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Solution: use unleaded petrol
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Based on above 8
pollutant levels, the air quality of given city, will be classified into
following 6 color-coded categories.
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Six categories of
Air Quality
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Category
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Index
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Health Impact
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Good
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0 – 50
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Minimal
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Satisfactory
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21 – 100
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Minor Breathing discomfort to
sensitive people
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Moderately Polluted
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101 – 200
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Breathing discomfort to asthma
patients, elderly and Children
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Poor
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210 – 300
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Breathing Discomfort to all
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Very Poor
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301 – 400
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Respiratory illness on prolonged
exposure
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Severe
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401 – 500
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Health impact even on light physical
work. Serious impact on people with heart / lung disease
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