Air Pollution:

• By volume, dry air contains 78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.039% carbon dioxide.

• According to Section 2(b) of Air (Prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981 ‘air pollution’ has been defined as ‘the presence in
the atmosphere of any air pollutant.’

• As per Section 2(a) of Air (Prevention and control of pollution) Act, 1981 ‘air pollutant’ has been defined as ‘any solid, liquid or
gaseous substance [(including noise)] present in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to
human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or environment’.

• Therefore, ambient air quality standard is developed as a policy guideline that regulates the effect of human activity upon the
environment so that pollutant emission into the air can be regulated. Standards may specify a desired state or limit alterations.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

The objectives of air quality standards are:

• To indicate the levels of air quality necessary with an adequate margin of safety to protect the public health, vegetation and
property;
• To assist in establishing priorities for abatement and control of pollutant level;
• To provide uniform yardstick for assessing air quality at national level;
• To indicate the need and extent of monitoring programme.

Parameters monitored under NAMP

To check air quality of the country, Central Pollution Control Board initiated National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) under
which three air pollutants viz.,
• Sulphur Dioxide (SO2),
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) and
• PM 10 (Particulate Matter size equal to or less than 10 micron)
• PM2.5 (Particulate Matter having an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 µm),
• Carbon monoxide (CO),
• Ammonia (NH3) Lead (Pb)
• Ozone (O3), Benzene (C6H6)
• Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)
• Arsenic (As) and
• Nickel (Ni)

Air Pollutants, Sources and Their Effects:

Pollutant Possible Sources Effec

ts
Natural Anthropogenic Human / flora / fauna Environment &
Property
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) • Volcanoes (67%) • combustion of fossil fuel (coal, heavy • respiratory illness • acid rain
SO2 is the chemical compound produced fuel oil in thermal power plants, • visibility impairment • aesthetic damage
by volcanoes and in various industrial office, factories)
• aggravate existing
processes and are also a precursor to • paper Industry heart and lung diseases
particulates in the atmosphere. • extravtion & distribution offossil
fuels
• smelting of metals (sulfide ores to
produce copper, lead and zinc)
• Petroleum refining
• combustion process in diesel, petrol,
natural gas driven vehicles

Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) Oxides of
nitrogen are a generic term for a group of
highly reactive gases that contain nitrogen
and oxygen in varying amounts.NOx are
emitted as nitrogen oxide (NO) which is
rapidly oxidized to more toxic nitrogen
dioxide (NO2) Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is a
reddish-brown toxic gas with a
characteristic sharp, biting odor
and is a prominent air pollutant.
• Lightning • High temperature combustion
• Forest fires (internal combustion engines,
fossil fuel-fired power stations,
• Bacterial activity of soil industrial)
• Burning of Bio-mass and Fossil
Fuels
• irritates the nose
and throat
• increase susceptibility
torespiratory infections
• Precursor of ozone
formed in the
troposphere
• Form atmospheric fine
particulate matter burden
as a result of oxidation to
form nitrate aerosol

Respirable Suspended Particulate • Coarse particles are • Road traffic emissions • cardio- Visibility reduction
Matter (PM10, size ≤10m, coarse produced by the particularly from diesel vehicles pulmonary
fraction PM10 - PM2.5). called thoracic mechanical break-up • Industrial combustion plants some problems
fraction) Particulate matter (PM) is a of larger solid public power generation • asthma, bronchitis,
complex mixture of suspended solid and particles. • Commercial and residential and pneumonia in
liquid particle in semi equilibrium with Wind blown dust such older people
combustion
surrounding gases. The major as road dust, fly ash, Non-combustion processes (e.g.
constituents of RSPM are organic and soot, agricultural quarrying)
elemental carbon, metals/elements like processes
• agricultural activities
silicon, magnesium, iron, ions like • physical processes
sulphates, nitrates, ammonium etc. ofcrushing,
PM10 can settle in the bronchi and lungs grinding and
and cause health problems abrasion of
surfaces.
• photochemically
 produced particles,
such as those found
in urban haze
• Pollen grains, mould
spores, and plant
and insect parts
• Non-
• combustible materials
released whenburning
fossil fuels.
Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5, size ≤ • Fine particles are • Vehicular emission • oxidative stress • aesthetic damage
2.5m, fine fraction size up to 2.5 µm, largely formed • Industrial combustion plants some • respiratory symptoms • visibility reduction
respirable fraction) Airborne particles from gases. public power generation such as irritation of
smaller than 2.5 µm called fine particles. • Ultrafine particles are
Composed mainly of carbonaceous • Commercial and residential the airways, coughing,
formed by nucleation, combustion or difficulty breathing
materials (organic and elemental),
inorganic compounds (sulfate, nitrate,
which is the initial • decreased lung function
stage in which gas
and ammonium), and trace metal • aggravated asthma
becomes a particle.
compounds (iron, aluminium, nickel, These particles can • chronic bronchitis
copper, zinc, and lead). pose the • irregular
grow up to a size of
greatest problems, PM2.5, tend to heartbeat cardio-
1µm either through
penetrate into the gas exchange regions condensation, when pulmonary
of the lung, and very small particles (< disordera
additional gas
100 nanometers) may pass through the
lungs to affect other organs. The
condensates or • premature death in
coagulation people with heart
smallest particles, however, less than
or lung disease
100 nm (nanoparticles) can get into the
bloodstream and affect the
cardiovascular system
Ozone(O3) • ozone is present in the • formed by the reaction of sunlight on • lung function deficits • Ozone cracking in car
Ozone is a pale blue gas, soluble in atmosphere in the air containing hydrocarbons and • respiratory illness tires, gaskets, O-rings
water and non-polar solvents with stratosphere, in a nitrogen oxides emitted by car is caqused by attack of
specific sharp odor somewhat • premature death, asthma,
region also known as engines, industrial operations, ozone on any polymer
resembling chlorine bleach. bronchitis, heart attack,
the ozone layer chemical solvents to form ozone possessing olefinic or
Ozone is a secondary pollutants formed and other
between about 10 km • electronic equipment such as double bonds within its
in the atmosphere by reaction between cardiopulmonary
and photocopiers chain structure,
oxides of nitrogen and volatile organic problems.
50 km above the surface • ozone present in the
compounds (VOCs) in the presence of • ground-level ozone and
upper troposphere acts
sunlight. Peak O3 levels occur typically pollution which interferes
as a greenhouse gas,
during the warmer times of the year. with photosynthesis and
absorbing some of the
stunts overall
infrared energy emitted
growth of some
by the earth.
plant species
Lead(Pb) • food (lead is absorbed • Waste incineration • Pb is rapidly absorbed
Lead is a bright silvery soft, dense, by plants) • Metal processing into the bloodstream and
ductile, highly malleable, bluish-white is believed to have
metal that has poor electrical • Paint Industry
adverse effects on the
conductivity heavy metal and is highly • lead solder in food cans, breast milk, central nervous system,
resistant to corrosion. drinking water, Cosmetics, ceramic the cardiovascular
pottery, burning of firewood or system, kidneys, and the
kerosene, indigenous remedies, immune system
tobacco and tobacco products,
• causes blood disorders
contaminated drinking water, toys,
like anemia increase in
industrial effluents, lead acid
blood presssure.
batteries, ammunition, paints and
•
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varnishes, water pipes potent neurotoxin that

accumulates both in soft
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• automobile exhaust,
tissues and the bones.
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• causes nephropathy, and

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colic-like abdominal
pains.
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•
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weakness in fingers,
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wrists, or ankles.
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• Miscarriage and
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reduction of fertility in
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males, delayed puberty

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in girls
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•
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permanently reduce the

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cognitive capacity of
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children
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Carbon monoxide (CO) • produced during • Exhaust of internal combustion • CO enters the
also called carbonous oxide, is a normal animal engines, especially of vehicles bloodstream through
colorless, odorless and tasteless gas metabolism (by the with petrol engines lungs and combines with
which is slightly lighter than air. It is action of heme • Burning of carbon fuels hemoglobin forms
highly toxic to humans and animals in oxygenase 1 and 2 carboxyhemoglobin.This
higher quantities. Mainly formed by • organic combustion in waste
on the heme from condition is known as
incomplete combustion of carbon incineration
hemoglobin anoxemia, which inhibits
containing fuels. breakdown and
• power station processes blood’s oxygen carrying
produces • Iron smelting capacity to organs and
carboxyhemoglobin • burning of crop residues tissues.
in normal persons) in • Persons with heart
low quantities and disease are sensitive to
has some normal CO poisoning and may
biological functions experience chest pain if
(signalling molecule) they breathe the gas
• volcanic activity while exercising.
• forest and • adverse effects on the
bushfires fetus of a pregnant
woman
• Infants, elderly persons,
and individuals with
respiratory diseases are
also particularly
sensitive.
• anti-
inflammatories,
vasodilators and
encouragers of
neovascular growth
Ammonia (NH3) • putrefaction of • Farms • irritating
to skin, eyes, Odour
A compound of nitrogen and hydrogen, a nitrogenous animal • Fertilizers Industry throat, and lungs and
colourless gas with a characteristic and vegetable cause coughing
pungent odour. • Industrial sites that store ammonia or
matter
use it as a refrigerant can release • burns
Contributes significantly to the Ammonia and
nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms high • Lungdamage and death
ammonium salts
by serving as a precursor to food and levels if the chemical leaks or is may occur after exposure
are also found in
fertilizers, and either directly or spilled to very high
small quantities in concentrations of
indirectly, is also a building block for the rainwater, fertile
synthesis of many pharmaceuticals. ammonia
soil and in seawater
• during volcanic
erruption
• The kidneys secrete
NH3 to
• neutralize excess
acid
Benzene (C6H6) • volcanoes • Combustion of fuel (automotive • Hematotoxic, neurotoxic,
Benzene is a colorless, sweet smelling • forest fires fuel, wood and stationary fossil leukemogenic,
liquid. Benzene is generated whenever fuel, other aromatics carcinogenic effects
carbon-rich materials undergo • evaporation (fuel storage • Chronic exposure to
incomplete combustion. Benzene is containers, during refueling benzene may
generated whenever carbon-rich
materials undergo incomplete
• Industrial emission causechromosomal
• Coke oven damage, immune
combustion.
suppression, aplastic
• Perchlorethlyene is emitted from anemia, myelodysplastic
some dry cleaning facilities syndrome, leukemia,
• tobacco smoke, wood smoke non-Hodgkins’s
• glues, paints, furniture wax, and lymphoma, and cancer of
detergents the lung and nasopharynx
• Effect the Reproductive
system, developing fetus
and fertility in men, low
birth weights, delayed
bone formation, and bone
marrow damage
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (BaP) • coal tar (after a • Incomplete combustion of • Mutagenic and
(particulate phase only) is a five-ring forest fire), • fuels (processing of coal and crude oil) highly
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon whose • eruption of volcanoes
metabolites are mutagenic and highly • Combustion of natural gas carcinogenic (skin, lung,
and bladder cancer in
carcinogenic • Road transport
humans and in animals)
• Industrial plant • skin rash or eye irritation
• Tobacco smoke Bronchitis
• coal tar
• automobile exhaust fumes (especially
diesel engines), inall smoke resulting
from the combustion of organic
material
• charbroiled food, burnt toast,
cooked meat products, in burnt
foods such as coffee
Arsenic (As) • volcanic ash, • Smelting of metals, • epigenetic changes
is a solid layered, a ruffled analogue of weathering of the • Combustion of fuels (especially • multi-system
graphite, metallic gray in color and is a
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arsenic- containing of low-grade brown coal) organ failure

semiconductor. It is a potent poison mineral and ores as
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IARC) recognizes arsenic and group 1 • Use of pesticides. • As poisoning

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well as groundwater.
• wood preservation, glass production,
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carcinogen (IARC)
• food, water, soil and
nonferrous metal alloys, electronic
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air
semiconductor manufacturing.
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• coke oven emissions

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associated with the smelter industry

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Nickel (Ni) • urease (an enzyme • Combustion of fossil fuels • Nickel sulfide fume and • explosive in air
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a silvery-white lustrous corrosion- which assists in the dust is believed to be

• Nickel plating
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resistant metal with a slight golden tinge hydrolysis of urea) carcinogenic

•
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Metallurgical processes
contains nickel • allergy, dermatitis.
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National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

Concentration in Ambient Air

Pollutants Industrial, Ecologically Methods of Measurement
S. Time Residential Sensitive
No. Weighte , Rural and Area (notified
d other by Central
Average Areas Government
)
1 Sulphur Dioxide Annual* 50 20 1. Improved West and Gaeke
(SO2), µg/m3 24 Hours** 80 80 2. Ultraviolet Fluorescence
2 Nitrogen Dioxide Annual* 40 30 1. Modified Jacob & Hochheiser
(NO2 ), µg/m3 24 Hours** 80 80 2. Chemiluminescence
3 Particulate Matter Annual* 60 60 1. Gravimetric
(Size <10µm) or PM10 24 Hours** 100 100 2. TEOM
µg/m3 3. Beta attenuation
4 Particulate Matter Annual* 40 40 1. Gravimetric
(Size <2.5 µm) or 2. TEOM
PM2.5 µg/m3 24 Hours ** 60 60 3. Beta attenuation
5 Ozone (O3), µg/m3 8 hours** 100 100 1. UV photometric
1 hours ** 180 180 2. Chemiluminescence
3. Chemical Method
6 Lead (Pb), µg/m3 Annual * 0.50 0.50 1. AAS/ICP Method after sampling
using EPM 2000 or equivalent filter
24 Hour** 1.0 1.0 paper
2. ED-XRF using Teflon filter
 7 Carbon Monoxide (CO), 8 Hours ** 02 02 Non dispersive Infra Red (NDIR)
mg/m3 1 Hour** 04 04
Spectroscopy
8 Ammonia (NH3), µg/m3 Annual* 100 100 1. Chemiluminescence
2. Indophernol blue method
24 Hour** 400 400
9 Benzene (C6H6) , µg/m3 Annual * 05 05 1. Gas chromatography based
continuous analyzer
2. Adsorption and Desorption
followed by GC analysis
10 Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP)- Annual* 01 01 Solvent extraction followed
particulate phase only, by HPLC/GC analysis
ng/m3
11 Arsenic (As), ng/m3 Annual* 06 06 AAS/ICP method after sampling on
EPM 2000 or equivalent filter
paper
12 Nickel (Ni), ng/m3 Annual* 20 20 AAS/ICP method after sampling on
EPM 2000 or equivalent filter
paper
* Annual Arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform interval.** 24
hourly 08 hourly or 01 hourly monitored values, as applicable shall be complied with 98% of the time in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed
the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.
NOTE: Whenever and wherever monitoring results on two consecutive days of monitoring exceed the limits specified above for the respective
category, it shall be considered adequate reason to institute regular or continuous monitoring and further investigation.

National Air Quality Index

• National Air Quality Index (NAQI) has the objective of dissemination of Air Quality information to the public. Computation of AQI is
done using real-time data of Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations.

• The AQI consider eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb), it is calculated only if data are available for
minimum three pollutants out of which one should necessarily be either PM2.5 or PM10.

• There are six AQI categories namely, Good, Satisfactory, Moderate, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe. The AQI values and
corresponding ambient concentrations (health breakpoints) as well as associated likely health impacts are as follows:

AQI Category, Pollutants and Health Breakpoints

AQI Category PM10 PM2.5 NO2 O3 CO SO2 NH3 Pb 24-
(Range) 24-hr 24-hr 24-hr 8-hr 24-hr 24-hr hr
8-hr
(mg/m3 )
Good (0-50) 0-50 0-30 0-40 0-50 0-1.0 0-40 0-200 0-0.5
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Satisfactory 51-100 31-60 41-80 51-100 1.1-2.0 41-80 201-400 0.5 –1.0
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(51-100)
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Moderately 101-250 61-90 81-180 101-168 2.1- 10 81-380 401-800 1.1-2.0

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polluted
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(101-200)
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251-350 91-120 181-280 169-208 10-17 381-800 2.1-3.0

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Poor 801-
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(201-300) 1200
pt
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Very poor 351- 121- 281- 209- 17-34 801- 1200- 3.1-3.5
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(301-400) 430 250 400 748* 1600 1800

yu
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Severe 430 + 250+ 400+ 748+* 34+ 1600+ 1800+ 3.5+

fo

(401-500)
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AQI Associated Health Impacts

Good (0–50) Minimal Impact

Satisfactory (51–100) May cause minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Moderately polluted (101–200) May cause breathing discomfort to 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
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