Central Pollution Control Board is planning to monitor PM1, the least visible particulate matter, along with PM2.5 and PM10 under its National Air Quality Monitoring Programme, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"CPCB is in the process of planning to undertake monitoring of PM1 initially with certain locations in Delhi and other major cities of the country. For this purpose, CPCB is studying all aspects of monitoring of PM1 including technology and international monitoring protocols," Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said in a written reply.
At present, CPCB, in association with State Pollution Controls Boards/Pollution Control Committees and National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, is monitoring ambient air quality at 612 monitoring stations located in 254 cities/towns in 29 states and five union territories across the country under National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme.
The total Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in ambient air comprises PM10 (particulate matter less than 10 micron), PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 micron) and PM1. The least visible particulate matter, i.E PM1 (particulate matter that is less than 1 micron) is significantly smaller than PM2.5 and is not monitored by CPCB as the same is not regulated.
"The monitoring of PM1 is not being done even by the Environment Protection Agency of United States of America on a regular basis," the minister said.
Earlier, dust in ambient air was being monitored as SPM (particulate matter less than 100 micron) and PM10 but now PM10 at all locations and PM2.5 at select locations.
