(Editor-Pankaj Gothi)

SWA Environmental Pvt. Ltd., a leading Ambient air quality, Stack emission air quality testing and monitoring service provider in Gujarat, India, is known for its high-quality services and skilled professionals, offering pan-India coverage with its head office based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Air, the essential mixture of gases that sustains life on Earth, consists mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), along with small amounts of gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor. However, air quality can be compromised by pollutants, impacting both human health and the environment.

 

Air testing is a critical process used to evaluate the quality of the air we breathe. By analysing air samples, we can detect and measure the presence of pollutants, allergens, and harmful chemicals that may impact health and the environment. This testing helps ensure that the air meets safety standards, providing a clearer understanding of potential risks and enabling effective measures to protect public health and maintain environmental quality. Whether for industrial compliance, health assessments, or environmental protection, air testing plays a vital role in safeguarding our well-being and ensuring a cleaner, healthier atmosphere.

 

Air testing is a crucial process that involves analysing air samples to detect pollutants, allergens, and harmful chemicals. These pollutants include particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ozone (O3). The aim is to ensure that the air we breathe meets safety standards and is free from substances that could cause harm to human health or the environment.

 

Air testing is like checking to make sure your favourite playground is clean and safe to play in. Just as you wouldn’t want to play in a dirty or unsafe playground, you wouldn’t want to breathe air that might make you sick. Sometimes, the air can have bad things in it, like pollution or chemicals, which can be harmful.

 

Ambient air quality plays a significant role in determining public health. Poor air quality, caused by pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and ozone (O3), can lead to a range of short-term and long-term health problems. Below are key impacts of ambient air quality on human health;

 

Ambient Air Quality and AQI

The quality of air outdoors, known as ambient air quality, is often monitored and measured against standards set by national and international regulatory bodies. In India, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides guidelines for ambient air quality, which include permissible limits for various pollutants. To simplify public understanding, the Air Quality Index (AQI) is used as a standard measure that indicates how clean or polluted the air is. The AQI ranges from 0 (good) to 500 (hazardous), with higher values representing worse air quality.

Significance of Air Parameters and Their Impact on Health

The levels of air pollutants can vary based on industrial activities, vehicle emissions, natural sources, and weather conditions. Key air parameters like PM2.5, PM10, NOx, SO2, and O3 have a direct impact on human health:

  1. PM2.5 and PM10: Includes PM10 (particles less than 10 micrometers) and PM2.5 (particles less than 2.5 micrometers). PM2.5 is particularly harmful as it can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
  2. Nitrogen Oxides (NOx): Produced from vehicle emissions and industrial processes, NOx can lead to the formation of smog and contribute to respiratory issues.
  3. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): Emitted from burning fossil fuels, SO2 can cause acid rain and respiratory problems.
  4. Ozone (O3): While beneficial in the upper atmosphere, ground-level ozone is a harmful pollutant that can cause respiratory problems and is formed from the reaction of sunlight with NOx and VOCs.
  5. Carbon Monoxide (CO): A colourless, odourless gas produced by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels; CO can interfere with oxygen transport in the body.
  6. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Emitted from paints, solvents, and fuels, VOCs can contribute to ground-level ozone formation and have various health effects.

 

National Ambient Air Quality Standards 2009 for Air Pollution

National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are standards for air quality that are set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that are applicable all over the country.

The NAAQS set by the CPCB are applicable to the whole country. The CPCB draws this power from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

The current standards (2009) comprise 12 pollutants and their perishable limits are as below:

 

Table of Ambient Air Quality Standards as per National Ambient Air Quality Standards : 2009

Concentration in Ambient Air
Pollutant Time Weighted Average Industrial, Residential, Rural and other areas Ecologically Sensitive Area (Notified by Central Government)
Sulfur Dioxide Annual / 24 hours 50 / 80 20 / 80
Nitrogen Dioxide Annual / 24 hours 40 / 80 30 / 80
PM10 (Inhalable Particulates) Annual / 24 hours 60 / 100 60 / 100
PM2.5 (Fine Particulates) Annual / 24 hours 40 / 60 40 / 60
Ozone 8 hours / 1 hour 100 / 180 100 / 180
Lead Annual / 24 hours 0.5 / 1 0.5 / 1
Carbon Monoxide 8 hours / 1 hour 2 / 4 2 / 4
Ammonia Annual / 24 hours 100 / 400 100 / 400
Benzene Annual 5 5
Benzo Pyrene (Particulate phase only) Annual 1 1
Arsenic Annual 6 6
Nickel Annual 20 20