Context:
A multi-city study examining the short-term health impacts of air pollution in India has been published in the Lancet Planetary Health.
Key Observations:
- Approximately 33,000 annual deaths can be attributed to PM 2.5 pollution in 10 cities of India.
- Deaths are higher in Delhi, Varanasi, Kolkata etc. because of higher average exposure, possibly the nature of sources and population.
Points to Note:
- WHO Guidelines: 24-hour average exposures should not exceed 15 µg/m3 (micrograms per cubic metre).
- Indian air quality standards prescribe 60 µg/m3 of PM2.5 over a 24-hour period.
About Air Pollution:
- Common air pollutants – PM2.5, PM10, Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and Nitric Oxides (NOx), Sulfur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO) etc.
- Have effects on air quality, human well-being, ecosystems, and the overall health of the planet.
Technological Initiatives to Combat Air Pollution:
- Pariyayantra Filtration Units on Buses – To effectively capture dust particles (through filters fitted on vehicles) from the surrounding environment
- WAYU Air Purification Units at Traffic Intersections –
- To address air pollution at traffic intersections and dense traffic zones.
- Indigenously developed by CSIR – National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (CSIR-NEERI).
- Ionisation Technology for Ambient Air Pollution Reduction
- Installation of Smog Towers
- Indigenous Photonic System for Air Quality Monitoring by the Department of Science and Technology
- Electric Vehicle (EV) Autonomous Technology under National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber Physical Systems (NM-ICPS)
About National Air Quality Index (AQI):
- Launched in 2014.
- ‘One Number – One Color– One Description’
- Measurement based on 8 pollutants – Particulate Matter (PM10), Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ozone (O3), Ammonia (NH3), and Lead (Pb).
- 6 categories – Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor and Severe.
- Developed by – Central Pollution Control Board in consultation with IIT-Kanpur
In the World Air Quality Report 2023 by IQAir, Delhi ranked 4thamong the most polluted cities globally out of a list of 50, while India secured the 8th position out of 131 countries with an average PM2.5 level of 53.3 μg/m3 in 2022.
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB):
- A statutory organisation constituted under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974.
- Later, was entrusted with the powers and functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- CPCB along with State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) are responsible for implementation of legislations relating to prevention and control of environmental pollution.
Source: Indian Express
Previous Year Question
In the cities of our country, which among the following atmospheric gases are normally considered in calculating the value of Air Quality Index?
1. Carbon dioxide
2. Carbon monoxide
3. Nitrogen dioxide
4. Sulfur dioxide
5. Methane
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2016 Prelims]
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 2, 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 4 and 5 only
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
Answer: (b)
Explanation:
Air Quality Index doesn’t include carbon dioxide and methane.
