National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
- The NAAQS are standards set by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and are applicable nationwide.
- CPCB derives its authority to set these standards from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.
- These standards help in managing and improving ambient air quality across India.
- First standards were formulated in 1982 following the enactment of the Air Act.
- They were revised in 1994 and 1998 to address emerging pollution challenges.
- The latest revision was done in 2009, which remains in force today.
- The 2009 revision:
- Lowered the maximum permissible limits for several pollutants.
- Made standards uniform for all areas, removing the earlier distinction where industrial areas had less stringent limits than residential areas.
- The compliance with NAAQS is monitored under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP), also implemented by CPCB.
- The Pollutants Covered under 2009 NAAQS (12 Pollutants)
- Particulate Matter 10 (PM₁₀)
- Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM₂.₅)
- Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)
- Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Ozone (O₃)
- Ammonia (NH₃)
- Lead (Pb)
- Benzene
- Benzopyrene
- Arsenic
- Nickel
