Air Quality Standards

Introduction
This nation-wide programe was initiated in 1984. As on March 31, 1995, the network comprised 290 stations covering over 90 towns/cities distributed over 24 States and 4 Union Territories. The National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) network is operated through the respective States Pollution Control Boards, the National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI), Nagpur and also through the CPCB. The pollutants monitored are Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) besides the meteorological parameters, like wind speed & direction, temperature and humidity. In addition to the three conventional parameters, NEERI monitors special parameters, like Ammonia (NH3), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). Based on Annual Mean Concentration (microgram per cubic meter of ambient air) of SO2, NO2 and SPM and the Notified Ambient Air Quality Standards, the Ambient Air Quality Status is described in terms of Low (L), Moderate (M), High (H) and Critical (C) for Industrial (I), Residential and mixed use (R) areas of Cities/Towns in different States/UTs.

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Air Quality Standards

National Ambient Air quality Standards (NAAQS)

POLLUTANTS

Time

Concentration of Ambient Air Method Measurement of

Weighted Industrial Residential Sensitive Average Area Rural and area other area

Improved Annual Sulphur (SO2) 24 hours Dioxide 80 Average 120 g/m3 80 g/m3 30 g/m3 Ultraviolet fluorescence g/m
3

west Gacke

60

g/m

15

g/m

and Method

JacabHochheister modified Annual Oxides of Nitrogen (NO2) 24 hours Chemilumine Scene Suspended Annual Particulate (SPM) Matter Average 500 g/m3 200 g/m3 100 g/m3 360 g/m3 140 g/m3 70 g/m3 High sampling (average flow Volume 80 Average 120 g/m3 80 g/m3 30 g/m3 Gas Phase g/m3 60 g/m3 15 g/m3 (Na-

Arsentire method

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Air Quality Standards rate not less than 24 hours 1.1 m3/minute) RespirableParticulate Annual Matter than 10 (size Less Average 150 24 hours g/m3 100 g/m3 75 g/m3 Respirable particulate matter sampler AAS Annual 1.0 Lead as Pb Average 1.5 24 hours g/m3 1.0 g/m3 0.75 g/m3 g/m3 0.75 g/m3 0.50 g/m3 after method sampling

120

g/m3 60

g/m3

50

g/m3

m) RPM

using EPM 2000 or equivalent

filter paper 8 hours Carbon Monoxide 1 hour 10.0mg/m3 4.0mg/m3 2.0mg/m3 5.0mg/m3 2.0mg/m3 1.0mg/m3 Non disbersive

infrared spectroscopy

Annual Average : Annual Arithmetic Mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year taken twice a week 24-hourly at uniform interval 24 Hours Average : 24-hourly/8-hourly values should be met 98% of the time in a year. However 2% of the time, it may exceeded but not two consecutive days. 1. The levels of air quality necessary with an adequate margin of safety, to protect the public health, vegetation and property. 2. Whenever and wherever two consecutives values exceeds the limit specified

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Air Quality Standards above for the respective category, it shall be considered adequate, reason to institute regular/continous monitoring and further investigations.

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are standards established by the United States Environmental Protection Agencyunder authority of the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.) that apply for outdoor air throughout the country. Primary standards are designed to protect human health, with an adequate margin of safety, including sensitive populations such as children, the elderly, and individuals suffering from respiratory diseases. Secondary standards are designed to protect public welfare from any known or anticipated adverse effects of a pollutant. A district meeting a given standard is known as an "attainment area" for that standard, and otherwise a "nonattainment area".[1]

Standards
The standards are listed in Title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 50.

Averaging Pollutant Type Standard Time a

Regulatory Citation

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Air Quality Standards

SO2

Primary

0.14 ppm (365 g/m3) 24-hour

40 CFR 50.4(b)

SO2

Primary

0.030 ppm (80 g/m) annual

40 CFR 50.4(a)

SO2

Secondary

0.5 ppm (1,300 g/m) 3-hour

40 CFR 50.5(a)

Primary PM10 Secondary

and 150 g/m 24-hour 40 CFR 50.6(a)

Primary PM2.5 Secondary

and 35 g/m 24-hour 40 CFR 50.7(a)

Primary PM2.5 Secondary

and 15 g/m annual 40 CFR 50.7(a)

CO

Primary

35 ppm (40 mg/m)

1-hour

40 CFR 50.8(a)(2)

CO

Primary

9 ppm (10 mg/m)

8-hour

40 CFR 50.8(a)(1)

O3

Primary

b and 0.12 ppm (235 g/m) 1-hour

40 CFR 50.9(a)

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Air Quality Standards Secondary

Primary O3 Secondary

and 0.075 g/m)

ppm

(150 8-hour 40 CFR 50.10(a)

Primary NO2 Secondary

and 0.053 g/m)

ppm

(100 annual

40

CFR

50.11(a)

and (b)

Primary Pb Secondary

and 0.15 g/m

Rolling months

3 40 CFR 50.12

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Air Quality Standards

Conclusion
The National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) network is operated through the respective States Pollution Control Boards, the National Environmental. The pollutants monitored are Sulphur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) besides the meteorological parameters, like wind speed & direction, temperature and humidity.

REFERENCE http://dpcc.delhigovt.nic.in/airstd.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Ambient_Air_Quality_Standards http://ec.europa.eu/environment/air/quality/standards.htm http://www.worldenviro.com/naaqs.html

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