The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Monday welcomed the release of much-awaited Air Quality Index (AQI), which will be used to inform the people about the daily air quality and to provide advisories on health consequences.
The AQI will measure how clean or polluted the air is and the associated health effects that might be of concern. This will help the people take precautions on 'bad air' days.
The AQI was released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi here earlier in the day.
The Centre for Science and Environment has been demanding adoption of this index for a long time.
"For the first time, the government has taken the initiative to inform people about daily air quality with simple descriptions that people can understand. It is cautioning them about possible health consequences. This can help build public awareness as well as public support for hard decisions needed to get cleaner air," said Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director in-charge of the clean air and sustainable cities programme in CSE.
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The new AQI has been hosted on the website of the Central Pollution Control Board. About ten cities that have the capacity for real time air quality monitoring are expected to be linked to a continuous 24-hour average data will be available daily.
The AQI has been developed for six pollutants - PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, ozone, and carbon monoxide.
Air pollution levels have been classified in six bands with simple descriptions. Each band has cut points of concentration with a colour code to visually express the level of severity that people can comprehend easily.
Air quality is classified good if the pollution levels are at least 50 per cent below the regulatory standards.
The government is also making efforts to inform people about the health consequences of air pollution
Good air quality days mean minimal health impacts. But on moderately polluted days, it may cause breathing discomfort in those suffering from lung or heart diseases.
On severely polluted days, pollution may cause respiratory effects even in healthy people and serious health impacts in people with lung disease.
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has also taken additional steps to report on two toxic pollutants - lead and ammonia-that also have harmful effects over time.
Globally, a smog episode is defined as three consecutive days when the pollution levels are elevated and remain in the worst category of the Air Quality Index.
According to CSE, it is also possible to have 'good' air days when pollution levels dip to 50 per cent below the standards. In March, 7 per cent of the days had good air quality. Cities need to act to increase the number of good air days.
With this step forward, India has joined the global league of countries like the US, China, Mexico, France and Hong Kong that have implemented smog alert systems.
These countries not only issue smog alerts, but also implement pollution emergency measures to bring down the peak pollution levels.
The newly released Air Quality Index is an important step forward to build awareness and protect public health. But it is time to push for aggressive and time-bound action in Delhi and other Indian cities to meet clean air standards and reduce the public health risk.
