PROPOSED AMBIENT LIMITS FOR PAH IN INDIA

An expert working group was constituted to propose Ambient Air Quality Standards for Benzene and BaP for 2005, 2010. The meeting of the expert working group on ambient air quality standards (Benzene and BaP ) was held on March 27, 2002 at CPCB, Parivesh Bhawan, Delhi-32. Detailed deliberations were made by the experts on existing levels as monitored in ambient air in India, prominent source of these pollutant, international standards / guidelines. Finally following recommendations were made unanimously for long term ambient air quality standards for Benzene and B(a)P by the expert group.

Proposed ambient limits for PAH indicator parameter i.e. Benzo(a)pyrene in India may be 5 ng/m³ for meeting on Ist January 2005 and be reduced to 1 ng/m³ by Ist January 2010. India also requires action plan to be developed to measure the concentration of Benzo(a)pyrene in ambient air & also to monitor other relevant PAH’s at limited number of sites. Other PAH compounds should include Benzo(a)pyrene, Benzo(b)flouranthene, Benzo(k)flouranthene, Indeno(cd)pyrene , Dibenzo(ah)anthracene , Benzo(ghi)perylene , Chrysene & Flouranthene