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5.1 AMBIENT AIR QUALITY
MONITORING
The air quality surveillance and monitoring is undertaken
to detect any deterioration in air quality arising from residential, industrial
and vehicular sources of pollution, as there are large seasonal variations in
the concentration of various air pollutants. It is important for assessing air
quality trends in order to maintain air quality as well as for air quality management.
The needs and necessity of air quality monitoring are basically due to following
reasons: - To generate
database in air quality for rapidly growing urban areas
It is essential
to keep the record of development of urban area to assess its impact on general
trend of air quality and its change.
- Compliance
with air quality standards
The regular monitoring of air quality
is necessary to assess concentration, that exceeds the stipulated air quality
standards and their exposure to general population. The monitoring network is
therefore set up for regular assessment before the control measures are adopted.
- Data base for
land use planning
The development of new land use is assessed from
pollution angle to develop plan for its proper development for new developing
activities. The air quality monitoring is necessary to register the quality of
air at its initial state, later the regular monitoring in the area provide assessment
of air quality trends. The
major objectives for ambient air quality monitoring are as below:
| (i) | Background
Data
In order to generate background data, air quality monitoring
is conducted to assess existing level of contamination and possible effects occurring
in future.
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(ii) | Status
and Trend Evaluation
To determine sources of pollution status
and trend information from any continuously ongoing air quality monitoring programme.
The information is used to determine, whether programme control activities are
providing measurable lowering of pollution levels or new or additional control
are required to achieve acceptable levels.
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| (iii) | Environment
Exposure level Determination
The air quality monitoring and
survey concern itself with systematic study of considerable segment of environment
to define inter relationship of source of pollution, atmospheric parameter and
measurable manifestations, in order to evaluate the character and magnitude of
existing problem.
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(iv) | Correlation
Between Air Quality and Health
To assess the effect of various
air pollutants, their intensity and duration of exposure and health status of
the exposed population in order to strategic air pollution control for the protection
of human health.
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| (v) | Scavenging
Behaviour of Environment
To understand natural scavenging
or cleansing process undergoing in the environment through pollution dilution,
dispertion, wind movement, dry deposition, precipitation and chemical transformation
of pollutants generated.
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| (vi) | Air
Quality Management
To assess the present status to adjudge
effectiveness of air pollution control strategies and long term management of
air quality. |
5.1.1 National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP)
The processes of urbanization and industrialization are intimately related
in an urban environment. The high density of population and industries in the
cities lead to vehicular, domestic and industrial emissions affecting adversely
the health and prosperity of population. Air quality monitoring is the measurement
of various pollutants to study the pattern and movement of air masses and deterioration
of air quality. Monitoring programme help in estimating the dynamic concentration
levels of various pollutants from time to time, based on dispersal mode of original
concentration at sources and at receptor end. The organization of systematic programme
of air quality monitoring is a complex task and require inputs at every stage
as per the scope of work. Air quality monitoring programme is a continuous operation
for generation of valid information on various air quality aspects for interpretation
in long run.
To gather information about nature, sources and extent of
air pollution, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had initiated National
Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) during 1984-85 at national level. The
monitoring programme help in:
- Identification of areas in need of restoration
of air quality and their priortization
- Identification of nature and extent
of pollution control need
- Assessment of effectiveness of pollution control
programme
Objective
The objectives of air quality monitoring
programme are as below: - To
continue ongoing process of producing periodic evaluation of air pollution situation
in urban areas of the country.
- To
determine status and trend in ambient air quality and effects of air pollution
in urban environment as well as on the health of exposed populations.
- The
air quality monitoring and survey concern itself with systematic study of considerable
segment of environment to define interrelationship of sources of pollution, atmospheric
parameters and measurable manifestations in order to evaluate the character and
magnitude of existing problem
- To
estimate the future worsening or improvement of air quality and to obtain the
knowledge and understanding necessary for developing preventive and corrective
measures.
- The status
of air pollution data and trend provide valuable information on which air pollution
control strategies and objective decisions may be planned for long term management
of air resources.
- To
understand the natural cleansing process undergoing in the environment through
pollution dilution dispersion, wind based movement, dry deposition, precipitation
and chemical transformation of pollutants generated.
- To
ascertain whether the prescribed ambient air quality standards are violated and
to assess health hazard, damage to materials and to control and regulate pollution
from various sources.
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