AIR QUALITY INDEX

Dr Ravi Kumar
Assistant Professor
 Definition
An air quality index is defined as an overall
scheme that transforms the weighed values of
individual air pollution related parameters (for
example, pollutant concentrations) into a single
number or set of numbers (Ott, 1978).
 Objective
 Inform public regarding overall status of air
quality through a summation parameter that is
easy to understand;
 Inform citizens about associated health impacts
of air pollution exposure; and
 Rank cities/towns for prioritizing actions
based on measure of AQI.
 Applications of Air Quality Index
1. Resource Allocation
2. Ranking of Locations
3. Enforcement of Standards
4. Trend Analysis
5. Public Information
6. Scientific Research
 AQI is useful for
(i) General public to know air quality in a
simplified way
(ii) A politician to invoke quick actions
(iii) A decision maker to know the trend of events
and to chalk out corrective pollution control
strategies
(iv) A government official to study the impact of
regulatory actions
(v) A scientist who engages in scientific research
using air quality data.
 Air Quality Monitoring
1. Online Monitoring network
2. Manual Monitoring network
 Online Monitoring network
 Automated air quality monitoring stations
 Record continuous hourly, monthly or
annually averaged data.
 In India, ~ 40 automatic monitoring stations are
operated.
 Data from these stations are available almost in
real-time.
 Most suitable for computation of AQI sub-
indices, as information on AQI can be
generated in real time.
 Manual Monitoring Network
 Mostly collect intermittent air quality data collection
 Not suitable for AQI calculation particularly for its quick
dissemination.
 573 locations under National Air Monitoring Programme
(NAMP).
 Mainly three criteria pollutants viz. PM10, SO2 and NO2 are
measured, at some stations PM2.5 and Pb are also measured.
 The monitoring frequency is twice a week. Such manual
networks are not suitable for computing AQI, as availability of
monitored data could have a lag of 1-3 days and sometimes not
available at all.
 Historical AQIs on weekly basis can be calculated and used for
data interpretation and ranking of cities or towns for further
prioritization of actions on air pollution control.
 AQI
Category NO2 O3 CO SO2 NH3
PM
10 PM
2.5 Pb
8-hr 3)
((Range) 24-hr 24-hr 24-hr 8-hr (mg/m 24-hr 24-hr 24-hr
Good (0-50) 0-50 0-30 0-40 0-50 0-1.0 0-40 0-200 0-0.5
Satisfactory
(51-100) 51-100 31-60 41-80 51-100 1.1-2.0 41-80 201-400 0.5 –1.0
Moderately
polluted
(101-200) 101-250 61-90 81-180 101-168 2.1- 10 81-380 401-800 1.1-2.0
Poor
801-
(201-300) 251-350 91-120 181-280 169-208 10-17 381-800 1200 2.1-3.0
Very poor
209- 801- 1200-
(301-400) 351-430 121-250 281-400 748* 17-34 1600 1800 3.1-3.5
Severe
(401-500) 430 + 250+ 400+ 748+* 34+ 1600+ 1800+ 3.5+
 Charaka says

 तत्र वातमेवम् विधमनारोग्यकरं विद्यात् ; तद्यथा - यथर्त्तुविषमं अतिस्तिमितं

 Fumigation

 Sprinkling

 Spraying

 Medicated Flags

 Medicated Drums
 Fumigation
लाक्षा हरिद्रा अतिविषा अभयाब्द हरेणुकै लादल वक्रकु ष्ठं I
प्रियंगुकां चाप्यनले निधाय धूमानिलौ चापि विशोधयेत II
SU KALPA JANGAMAVISHA 17
Also, Aparajita churna, Palankshadi churna
 Sprinkling
देवदारु नतानन्ता मधुकार्जुन गैरिकम् I
वज्रकन्दं लताम् लोध्रं वीकिरेत् शलक्ष्ण चूर्णितं II
वृक्षाग्रेषु पताकासु दुष्येषु सुमहत्स्वपि I
सर्वतश्चूर्ण सम्पर्कात् निर्विषो जायतेनिल: II
AS SU 8/161-162
 Spraying
विल्वाढकी यवक्षार पाटली बाल्हिकोषणा I
श्रीपर्णीसल्लकीयुक्ता निष्क्वाथ:प्रोक्षण: परम् II
AS SU 8/181
 Medicated flags, Drums
हरेणु मंसि मञ्जिष्ठा रजनी मधुकं मधु: I
अक्षत्वक् सुरसं लाक्षाश्वपित्तं पूर्ववन्मणि: II
वादित्राणि पताकाश्च पिष्टैरेभिश्च लेपिता: II
श्रुत्वा दृष्ट्वा समाघ्राय सद्यो भवति निर्विषम् I
AS SU 8/190-191
(Also Sushruta - Dundubhswaneeya)