Air Quality Index Explained

In a world where air quality now presents the utmost concern with the increasing levels of pollution in numerous regions worldwide, the Air Quality Index stands to be the key tool in assessing and reporting the air pollution; it shall give an indication of how polluted the current air is or a forecast of how polluted the air will become. This blog will discuss everything related to AQI, its health impact on humans, and how it is measured, strictly focusing on cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Noida. 

What is the Air Quality Index (AQI)?

The Air Quality Index is a quantification scale used to measure the quality of the air, report the level, and communicate potential health impacts. National Air Quality Index in India contains six categories based on different kinds of health impact.

• Good (0-50): AQI is satisfactory in terms of health, and even the presence of pollutants is little or no risk.
• Satisfactory 51-100 Acceptable: Air quality is acceptable; however, there may be a moderate health concern for people who are sensitive to air pollution.
• 101-200 Moderate: Health effects associated with respiratory disease may occur after several days or weeks exposure to elevated levels of this pollutant. The general public is unlikely to be affected.
• 201-300 Poor: Everyone may begin to experience a significant amount of adverse health effects.
• Extremely Bad (301-400): Health alerts on severe conditions. The entire population is exposed.
• Serious (401-500): Health caution: everyone can be exposed to more severe health issues.

Why is the Air Quality Index Important?

The monitoring of the AQI is of utmost importance for public health as it provides a snapshot of how clean or polluted the air is and helps people make informed choices to protect themselves from harmed air. For example, whereas the air quality index often crosses into hazardous levels in the cities of Delhi, millions are affected by it; the cities of Mumbai and Bangalore often experience moderate pollution levels.

Besides informing one of the current status of air quality, AQI projects the future levels of pollution so that an alert health-conscious individual, especially one suffering from a health condition, can prepare himself or herself to plan his or her various activities for the day.Components of Air Quality Index (AQI)

The five major air pollutants are formed in AQI levels:

• Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5): These are tiny particles which can penetrate deep inside the lungs along with the risky health issues such as cardiovascular and respiratory health and particularly PM2.5 deep into the lung tissues.
• Ground-level Ozone (O3): Ground-level ozone is harmful as its concentration reaches its peak during warm weather. It causes respiratory problems and exacerbates asthma. It also results in premature death.
• Carbon Monoxide (CO): A lethal, odorless, colorless gas is harmful as well as dangerous to those with heart diseases. It lowers the oxygen-carrying ability of blood.
• SO2 or Sulfur Dioxide: The primary source of this pollutant lies in the burning of fossil fuel within power plants and industrial facilities, which has been known to bring many respiratory ailments and compound problems related to heart disease.
• NO2: NO2 is a gaseous irritant causing irritation to human respiratory airways. People whose exposure to NO2 concentrations persist over a long period, experience lung function deterioration.

AQI in India: City-wise Analysis

India is host to some of the most polluted cities around the world, and Delhi regularly tops the list. Other metro cities like Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata also show fluctuating AQI and high levels during winters. Let's get into the details on the AQI for some important cities:

• Delhi Air Quality Index: Delhi air quality often falls into the "Very Poor" and "Severe" categories for most parts of the winter season. It is attributed to the contribution of vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, and seasonal stubble burning in neighboring states. In November 2023, the Delhi AQI reached over 400, making it a severe threat to the health of its residents.
• Mumbai Air Quality Index: Even though the air quality in Mumbai is considered to be better compared to Delhi, many times it falls into the "Moderate" category. However, sometimes, particularly when the traffic is heavy and industrial emissions rise, the AQI in Mumbai shoots up causing problems for residents, especially those suffering from chronic ailments.
• Bangalore Air Quality Index: Bangalore usually has a lower AQI; in the "Satisfactory" to "Moderate" category. However, with the steadily increasing emissions from vehicles as well as industrial activities, Bangalore's AQI has occasionally spurted to the "Poor" category.
• Chennai Air Quality Index: Unless it is a festival season, the city of Chennai has to live with moderate air quality conditions. At the time of festivals and heavy traffic, the city of Chennai faces a disastrous level of air quality. During Diwali, the AQI rises in Chennai and crosses 300, which seriously threatens those who are suffering from respiratory problems.
• Noida Air Quality Index: Since Noida is a city along the boundary of Delhi, its AQI reflects what happens at the capital city level, and it suffers hazardous winters. The reason behind that is particulate pollution during winters.

                                        

Factors Affecting AQI

The rising air pollution in India and other places is due to a variety of factors, some of which are described below:

• Vehicular Emissions: The levels of NO2, CO, and particulate matter in the air are sharply increased due to cars, trucks, and buses. Most of the traffic-related pollution affects huge cities like Delhi and Mumbai.
• Industrial Activities: Harmful gases from factories and industries-mostly those related to SO2, NO2, and PM2.5-have significantly increased the levels of worse AQI. Such levels of industrial pollutants worsen the AQI levels in industrial cities.
• Construction Dust: With cities growing as fast as Gurgaon and Ghaziabad, the amount of particulate matter emanating from the construction sites are way too high and are severely deteriorating the quality of air.
• Agricultural Practices: Widespread stubble burning in northern India, especially in the winters, is a huge cause of PM2.5 levels. It has caused widespread pollution in the Indo-Gangetic plain.
• Weather Conditions: Temperature inversions trap pollutants close to ground level, causing air quality to deteriorate. Winter smog in Delhi becomes a routine effect of such inversions.

Health Impacts of Poor Air Quality

Poor air quality, characterized by high AQI, can have the following serious health implications:

• Short-term effects include coughing, irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, shortness of breath, headaches, and dizziness.
• Long-term effects It causes chronic respiratory disease, including asthma and bronchitis; cardiovascular diseases; loss of lung function; and even death. The most vulnerable people are: children, the elderly, and those who have pre-existing conditions.

How to Protect Yourself from Poor AQI

Now, to reduce the impact of bad air quality especially in cities like Delhi and Noida, some of the doable tips include:

• Stay indoors: Avoid going outdoors and restricting yourself for as much time as possible on such high AQI days, specifically during peak traffic hours.
• Use air purifiers. Invest in air purifiers, especially for bedrooms, in order to reduce indoor air pollution.
• Wear Masks: When going outside, one should carry an N95 or N99 mask as it filters harmful particles from the air.
• Check AQI: There are various AQI apps available in the market. Use them to check the AQI levels in your region. You can then plan your outdoor activities on days when the pollution levels are relatively low.

Conclusion: The Future of Air Quality in India

Air quality management would increasingly be crucial for India as it further urbanizes and industrializes. All governments, households, and individuals must take steps toward increasing environmental stability by reducing air pollution through sustainable development, cleaner technology, and more stringent regulations. As cities such as Delhi, Noida, and Mumbai continue to be a challenge, greater awareness and action will surely lead to a healthier tomorrow for all.