National Air Quality Index

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National Air Quality Index

National Air Quality Index(AQI)

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Air Quality Index is a tool for effective communication of air quality status to people in terms, which are easy to understand.It transforms complex air quality data of various pollutants into a single number (index value), nomenclature and colour.
Launch: It was launched in 2014 with an outline ‘One Number – One Color – One Description’ for the common man to judge the air quality within his vicinity.
There are six AQI categories, namely Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. Each of these categories is decided based on ambient concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts (known as health breakpoints).
Based on the measured ambient concentrations, corresponding standards and likely health impact, a sub-index is calculated for each of these pollutants. The worst sub-index reflects overall AQI.

Pollutants Covered under AQI

Particulate Matter (PM10)
Particulate Matter (PM2.5)
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2)
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Ozone (O3)
Ammonia (NH3)
Lead (Pb)

FAQs

Q1. What are National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)?

NAAQS are standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) to define permissible limits of major air pollutants in outdoor air to protect human health, vegetation, and property.

Q2. How many pollutants are covered under the AQI?

AQI covers 8 pollutants: PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, and Pb

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