Ambient Air Quality monitoring or Testing is a processof measurement of pollutants present in the atmosphere. It measuresthe healthiness and safety of our environment.
What is Ambient Air Quality?
Ambient air quality is defined as the quality of air outside and sometimes inside. Ambient air quality standards are limits to concentrations of pollutants in air stated for well being of human, nature, animals, etc. There is no single specified definition of standards resulting, Various organizations use standards which are not often similar. Ambient air quality monitoring is also called as Outdoor Air Quality Testing.
What is Air Quality Monitoring?
Air quality monitoring is the process of assessment of pollutants present in the atmosphere by their quantity and types as per air quality standards. Air quality monitoring helps us to take action based on pollutants present in atmosphere to improve air quality
Why Ambient Air Quality Monitoring or Testing Required?
Air Pollution is the introduction of Chemicals, Particulates orother Harmful materials into atmosphere causes/damage to living organism/BuiltOrganism. Air pollutants are added in the atmosphere from a variety of sourcesthat change the composition of the atmosphere and affect the biotic environment.The concentration of air pollutants depends not only on the quantities that areemitted from air pollution sources but also on the ability of the atmosphere toeither absorb or dispersethese emissions. The sources of air pollutantsinclude vehicles, industries, domestic sources and natural sources. Because ofthe presence of a high amount of air pollutants in the ambient air, the health ofthe population an
property is getting adversely affected. In order to arrestthe deterioration in air quality, Govt. of India has enacted the Air (Preventionand Control of Pollution) Act in 1981. The responsibility has been further emphasized under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.Therefore, the Central Pollution Control Board had startedNational Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) Network during 1984 – 85 at the national level. The program was later renamed as National Air Quality Monitoring Program (NAMP).
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring & Testing Methodology
Ambient air quality monitoring & testing is required to determine the existing quality of air, evaluation of the effectiveness of the control program. National Air Quality Monitoring Program is described in this chapter along with details on pollutants measured and their frequency. Similarly, Guidelines for monitoring are made for carrying out AAQM under NAMP and description of the program is essential as the monitoring is carried out to meet the objectives of NAMP.
Various types of equipment are used to find the amount of Air pollution done by a particular source called ‘’Air Monitoring Equipment.’’Evaluation of Ambient Air for determination of community air Quality as related to local health, Social& EnvironmentalEffects.Determination of suspended particulate matter as small as one-micron size & any four gaseous contaminants at a time.
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring or Testing Parameters
Under N.A.M.P., 12 air pollutants viz., Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen as NO2 and Particulate Matter (PM10) and Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Ozone (O3), Lead (Pb), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ammonia (Nh3), Benzene (C6H6), Benzo-Pyrene (BaP), Arsenic (As), Nikhel (Ni) have been identified for regular monitoring at required the locations/ Industrial unit.
Among all these parameters Particulate matter is the most important pollutant present in the atmosphere. It is also called as Particulate matter Monitoring or Dust Monitoring.
As per CPCB Notification under National ambient air quality testing standards (NAAQS). These Results can beconverted into the non-Technical way so that everybody can understand the level of pollution. it is called as Air Quality Index (AQI).
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring or Testing Standards
Below mentioned are National Ambient or Outdoor air quality standards(NAAQS Standards) which are used in ambient air testing.
| Parameters | Unit | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) | mg/M3 | ≤ 80 |
| Oxides of Nitrogen | mg/M3 | ≤ 80 |
| Particulate Matter PM10 | mg/M3 | ≤ 100 |
| Particulate Matter PM2.5 | mg/M3 | ≤ 60 |
| Ozone (O3) | mg/M3 | ≤ 180 |
| Lead (Pb) | mg/M3 | ≤ 1.0 |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) | mg/M3 | ≤ 04 |
| Ammonia (NH3) | mg/M3 | ≤ 400 |
| Benzene (C6H6) | mg/M3 | ≤ 05 |
| Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP) | mg/M3 | ≤ 01 |
| Arsenic (As) | mg/M3 | ≤ 06 |
| Nickel (Ni) | mg/M3 | ≤ 20 |
Ambient Air Quality Testing Procedure – Duration and Frequency
The period and frequency of ambient or outdoor air quality sampling procedure should be such that statistically reliable averages can be obtained with the data i.e. 8 Hrs or 24 Hrs. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) states that it should be 8 Hrs monitoring or 24 Hrs as per requirement. Particulate matter levels are lower during the monsoon months due to removal by wet deposition. Air pollutants suchas CO levels are higher during winter months due to lower mixing heights resulting in less volume of troposphere available for mixing and hence higher concentrations. Thus measurements should be conducted in all the seasons so that in annual average all the seasons are represented equally. In general, a minimum of 20% of the reading should be taken in each season.
Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Equipment
There are many types of instruments available to monitor ambient air quality such as Respirable dust samplers, High volume air samplers, Handy dust samplers, Combined dust samplers, Portable air quality analyzers, etc. Below are the few Ambient Air Quality Monitoring instruments commonly used in the industry
High Volume Air Sampler
High Volume Air Sampler consists of the filter holding assembly, High capacity blower, U-tube Manometer, Rotameter, impingers housed in detachable fibre case, inlet filters, voltage stabilizer & Timer.
Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Station
Continuous air quality testing station or ambient air quality monitoringstation constantly samples and test ambient air and provide instant reading to the nearest monitoring center. Recently the Indian government has installed more than 50 continuous air quality monitoring stations in Metro cities of India.
Ambient Air Monitoring & Testing Services Company
We offer Ambient air monitoring & Testing Services in India. Our Company is completely adept in offering customized ambient air monitoring services as per clients requirements. All this was possible because, We have highly qualified and experienced professionals who are capable of monitoring the air for toxin level, pollution degree etc.
Special features of Perfect Pollucon Services are:
- Customized service offered
- Excellent monitoring
- Specialized services
- Efficient professional team
- Cost-effective
- Timely Service
- Reliable
Also, we have periodically calibrated instruments as per Pollution control board guidelines. As Environmental Consultants We offer services in Soil Analysis, Water Analysis, Environmental Monitoring, Air Quality Monitoring, Ambient Noise level Monitoringand Stack Emission Monitoring.
What are the parameters of ambient air quality?
As per CPCB parameters of air quality monitoring are Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2.5), NO2, CO, O3, SO2, NH3, Pb, As, Ni, Benzopyrene and Benzene. Mostly parameters like PM, SO2, CO, CO2, O3 and NH3 are reported.
How is ambient air quality measured?
The process of Air quality measuring is combining multiple pollutants levels present in the atmosphere and then combining their reading with their weightage assigned by pollution control boards. This gives information on air quality to the public whether air quality is either good, moderate, or hazardous.
Which is standard is used for ambient air quality monitoring?
As per CPCB notification, the fourth version of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) is used for ambient air quality monitoring.
What is ambient air quality monitoring?
Ambient air quality monitoring is the process of collecting, measuring ambient air pollutants to evaluate the current status of the environment, and comparing them to standards declared by government agencies.
How do you test ambient air quality?
There are many types of ambient air quality monitoring such as high volume sampler, handheld devices, passive monitoring, continuous monitoring, active sampling using silica gel etc. Then to make understand these results for common people it is converted into Air Quality Index i.e., scoring system.
Why is ambient air quality monitoring necessary?
a. It helps us assess impacts caused by poor air quality on public health
b. It helps us to understand if air quality is within standards or not
c. To Identify polluted areas, level of pollution
d. The efficiency of industries in high polluted areas
e. Assess health issues on people due to pollution
f. To design control measures for better health of livings
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FAQs
What is ambient air quality monitoring? ›
Ambient air monitoring is the systematic, long-term assessment of pollutant levels by measuring the quantity and types of certain pollutants in the surrounding, outdoor air.
What are the 4 mandatory parameters of ambient air quality? ›Ambient Air Quality Monitoring or Testing Parameters
Under N.A.M.P., 12 air pollutants viz., Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen as NO2 and Particulate Matter (PM10) and Particulate Matter (PM2.
The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970 instruct the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to set primary National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) to protect public health, and secondary NAAQS to protect plants, forests, crops and materials from damage due to exposure to six air pollutants.
What is meant by ambient air quality? ›Ambient air pollution is a broader term used to describe air pollution in outdoor environments. Poor ambient air quality occurs when pollutants reach high enough concentrations to affect human health and/or the environment.
Why is ambient air quality testing or monitoring required? ›Ambient Air Quality monitoring or testing is a process of measurement of pollutants present in the atmosphere. It ensures the safety of our environment and follows the regulatory guidelines for smooth functioning of your business.
What is the purpose of air monitoring? ›The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) established the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and required States to monitor the air quality. According to the EPA, air monitoring is used to: To judge compliance with and/or progress made towards meeting ambient air quality standards.
What are the six levels of air quality? ›| Daily AQI Color | Levels of Concern | Values of Index |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Good | 0 to 50 |
| Yellow | Moderate | 51 to 100 |
| Orange | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | 101 to 150 |
| Red | Unhealthy | 151 to 200 |
Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.
What are the 6 criteria pollutants? ›These six pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particle pollution (often referred to as particulate matter), and sulfur oxides.
What are the types of air quality standards? ›Two types of Ambient Air Quality Standards are identified in the Clean Air Act: Primary standards provide public health protection, including protecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics, children, and the elderly and Secondary standards provide public welfare protection, including protection ...
What are 3 common sources that give off sulfur dioxide? ›
Most of the sulfur dioxide released into the environment comes from electric utilities, especially those that burn coal. Some other sources of sulfur dioxide include petroleum refineries, cement manufacturing, paper pulp manufacturing, and metal smelting and processing facilities.
Who enforces NAAQS? ›EPA establishes [NAAQS] for certain pollutants, pursuant to section 109 of the CAA, 42 U.S.C. § 7409, and States are required to attain those standards.
What are the 7 criteria air pollutants? ›The pollutants are particulate matter, ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and lead.
What is the importance of air quality monitoring? ›Monitoring helps in assessing the level of pollution in relation to the ambient air quality standards. Standards are a regulatory measure to set the target for pollution reduction and achieve clean air. Robust monitoring helps to guard against extreme events by alerting people and initiate action.
How is air quality monitoring done? ›Steps involved in Air Testing Service:
Collecting air samples from the site. Battery operated instruments for real-time measurements of Temperature, Humidity, Wind direction, Wind speed, PM2. 5, PM10, CO, CO2, NOx, etc. Monitoring human exposure to harmful pollutants.
There are essentially two types of monitoring: emissions and ambient.
How often should air monitoring be done? ›The suggested time between air monitoring depends upon the chemicals present in the workplace and the risks involved. For example, general dust and more inert compounds may require an assessment every two years. Also, where previous surveys show good control of exposure, monitoring could be less frequent.
What are the 3 ways used to measure air pollutants? ›When analyzing air pollutants manually, both spectrometry (absorption spectrophotometry, atomic absorption spectrometry, and ICP emission method), which is widely used, and chromatography (gas chromatography and liquid chromatography) are given in detail as examples as follows.
What are the health effects of ambient air pollution? ›Chronic exposure to particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as of lung cancer. Air quality measurements are typically reported in terms of daily or annual mean concentrations of PM10 particles per cubic meter of air volume (m3).
How does air quality monitoring work? ›How Does an Air Quality Monitor Work? Air quality monitors are fitted with multiple sensors made to detect different types of pollutants. An electrochemical sensor detects oxygen levels and the presence of toxic gas by reducing it through an electrode and measuring its concentration.
What do you mean by ambient air quality measurement and their standards of air pollution? ›
Ambient air quality criteria, or standards, are concentrations of pollutants in the air, and typically refer to outdoor air. The criteria are specified for a variety of reasons including for the protection of human health, buildings, crops, vegetation, ecosystems, as well as for planning and other purposes.
What causes ambient air pollution? ›Vehicle emissions, fuel oils and natural gas to heat homes, by-products of manufacturing and power generation, particularly coal-fueled power plants, and fumes from chemical production are the primary sources of human-made air pollution.
What is Malaysian Ambient air quality Standard? ›According to Malaysian Ambient Air Quality Standard (IT-1[2015]), the PM10, PM2. 5, CO and NO2 level shall not be greater than 150 µg/m3, 75 µg/m3, 35 mg/m3 and 320 µg/m3, respectively. All parameters at all sampling point were found to be below the stipulated limit.
What are the two types of air monitoring? ›There are essentially two types of monitoring: emissions and ambient.
What are the six levels of air quality? ›| Daily AQI Color | Levels of Concern | Values of Index |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Good | 0 to 50 |
| Yellow | Moderate | 51 to 100 |
| Orange | Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups | 101 to 150 |
| Red | Unhealthy | 151 to 200 |
Thus, installing an air quality monitoring system helps monitor the presence of pollutants, resulting in better environmental conditions for humans to reside. This also impacts their health and reduces the chances of occurring any health issues by maintaining a moderate ambiance or as required.
What are the main components of ambient air? ›Ambient air is typically 78% nitrogen and 21% oxygen. The extra 1% is made up of a combination of carbon, helium, methane, argon and hydrogen. The closer the air is to sea level, the higher the percentage of oxygen.
What are the major types of ambient air pollutants? ›These six pollutants are carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen oxides, ground-level ozone, particle pollution (often referred to as particulate matter), and sulfur oxides.
What instrument is used to measure air quality? ›PCE-RCM 10 is a portable handheld air quality particle counting meter or particle counter used to monitor particulate matter (PM) concentrations in the air. Designed to aid in indoor air quality (IAQ) assessments, this particle counter also measures air temperature and relative humidity (RH).
What are the 5 major causes of air pollution? ›Air pollution is caused by solid and liquid particles and certain gases that are suspended in the air. These particles and gases can come from car and truck exhaust, factories, dust, pollen, mold spores, volcanoes and wildfires.
What are the 5 effects of air pollution? ›
Long-term health effects from air pollution include heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases such as emphysema. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people's nerves, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. Some scientists suspect air pollutants cause birth defects.