New Delhi: India tends to have new ambient air quality standards (NAAQ) in 2022, with factors in more pollutants, including ultra-fine particle material less than PM2.5.
The existing national standard was formulated 12 years ago.
The Central Pollution Control Agency (CPCB) has provided employment to update NaAQs to the IIT Kanpur-LED team, including scientists from IIT Delhi, National Physical Laboratory (NPL), Neer and AIIM.
The team will recommend revised standards by perfecting and expanding the pollutant base.
“Memorandum of understanding (MoU) will soon be signed between CPCB and IIT-Kanpur.
The team will be given 12 months to complete the report,” said an official at the Ministry of Environment.
The first Naaq India was adopted in 1982 and was later revised in 1994 and 2009, factoring in eight pollutants – particulates (PM2.5 and PM10), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, benzene, ammonia and ozone.
The expert group will check the criteria adopted by various countries and who is the guideline before arriving at his last suggestion.
Scientists will also take into account the geographical position of India and meteorological conditions when recommending updates for Naaqs.
“The Group will send its recommendations to the CPCB which in turn will provide the next final to consider the stakeholder views through public consultations,” the official said.
In addition to expanding the scope of measurements for different pollutants by redefining the area, a period of time for long-term and short-term values and frequency of measurements, the Group will also analyze the effects of air pollutants on human health and vegetation.
‘Scope of work’ for the group, accessed by Toi, shows that the team will conduct a primary health survey in various locations, where high concentrations of various pollutants are reported, to establish “health effects of various pollutants”.
The location for this survey will be decided in consultation with CPCB.
Advice on guidelines for designing network monitoring, monitoring location settings, data validation protocols, reviews’ air quality index ‘(AQI) and the use of various technologies for monitoring is also part of the’ scope of work ‘for groups’.
India to recalibrate air quality standards next year
