What is Air Pollution and its key pollutants? Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere (WHO). Key health harmful air pollutants include following Particulate Matters (PM2.5 and PM10), Carbon Monoxide (CO), ground level Ozone (O3), Volatile Organic Compounds, metals, Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Major sources of air pollution in the country are Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is from both anthropogenic and natural. Industrial emissions (through fossil fuel buming/ process and fugitive emission) vehicular exhaust re-suspension of road dust, construction and demolition activities, refuge buming (garbage, ho(iculture wastes, crop residues etc.) use of solid fuels for cooking and buming of fire crackers etc. Household indoor air pollution - is caused by buming biomass such as wood, coal, dung, kerosene in chulhas or fireplaces for cooking and heating purposes. Others such as by buming mosquito coils, incense sticks, cigarettes, bidis, use of sprays, solvents, and fumes from chemicals used in building interiors etc. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS): Building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects which appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identifred is called Sick Building Synrlrome (SBS). The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone or may be widespread throughout the building. The major sources are inadequate ventilation, chemical and biotogical contaminants (molds and fungi) from indoor sources or outdoor sources, dust, smoke, fumes, fabric fibers, bright or flickering lights and problems with cleaning and layout Understanding air quality/AQI levels and its health significance To avoid complexities in understanding the data and for its effective communication and to educate public on status of air pollution and its related health perspectives, Central Pollution Control Board has launched the mechanism of publishing Air Quality Index (AQI) depicted in easily understandable six (6) colour code categories with their likely health impacts as Good Satisfactory Moderately polluted Poor Very Poor Severe Worsening of Air Quality Index (higher AQI value) especially of 'poor to severe' in an area may lead to increase in health complications among those exposed particularly vulnerable populations such as children, elderly, individuals with underlying medical conditions etc. AQI levels and health impact Air Quality Index (AQI) # (Pollution level) Possible Health Consequences Advice for General Population Vulnerable Population* Good (0-50) Low risk No special precautions No special precautions Satisfactory (51-100) Minor breathing discomfort in vulnerable population No special precautions Do less prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion Moderate (101-200) Breathing or other health related discomfort in vulnerable population* Do less prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion Avoid prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion Poor(201-300) Breathing discomfort in healthy people on prolonged exposure.Breathing or other health related discomfort in vulnerable population on short exposure Avoid outdoor physical exertion Avoid outdoor physical activities Very Poor(301-400) Respiratory illness in healthy people on prolonged exposure. Pronounced respiratory or other illnesses in vulnerable population on short exposure Avoid outdoor physical activities, especially during morning and late evening hours Remain indoors and keep activity levels low Severe(401-500) Respiratory illness in healthy people on prolonged exposure. Serious respiratory or other illnesses in vulnerable population on short exposure Avoid outdoor physical activities Remain indoors and keep activity levels low Health consequences of air pollution The health impacts of air pollution depend on the level of pollution and exposure duration. The individuals' vulnerability to the health impacts of pollution can also differ based on demographic factors and predisposing health conditions. Short-term high-level exposures can result in acute health reactions with involvement of various human organs and patients may present with certain suggestive symptoms like irritation of eyes, nose, throat and skin, cough, breathing difficulty, wheezing, chest discomfort, chest pain, headache, giddiness, limb weakness, facial deviation etc. Vulnerable groups can experience more severe effects such as lower respiratory tract inflammation and infection, exacerbation of asthma, bronchitis or exacerbation of chronic illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Respiratory System), ischemic heart diseases (CVS), and cerebrovascular strokes (CNS) etc. Long term exposure to even lower level of air pollution can result in chronic illnesses of respiratory and cardiovascular systems, lung cancer and premature deaths. Vulnerable Population to health effects of air pollution Age group: Children particularly under 5 years and old age groups Pregnant women: Exposure during pregnancy may have consequences for child in womb. Predisposed health conditions: Those with pre-existing illnesses of respiratory cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems are at higher risk Low socio-economic conditions: Those with poor nutritional status; those living in poor housing, using fossil fuels for cooking, heating/ lighting purposes are at risk. Outdoor working groups: Those with possibility of prolonged exposures such as traffic policemen, traffic volunteers, construction workers, road sweepers, rickshaw pullers, auto-rickshaw drivers, roadside vendors, and others working outdoors in air polluted settings, labours working near boilers or furnace smelters, miners etc. are at higher risk. Besides, women with burning biomass for cooking, and sweeping dust are vulnerable on account of their household work. How to access AQI and forecast SAMEER App Sameer app from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is a mobile app which can provide the city level hourly update of the National Air Quality Index (AQI) published by Central Pollution Control Board. Health Officials and general public may download it for use to get information of the air quality level in their respective areas. SAMEER App - Andoird users; iOS users. Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi and India (Advanced High Resolution) Under the auspices of Ministry of Earth Sciences, India Meteorological Department (IMD) and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) have commissioned Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for India. The advanced high-resolution Air Quality Early Warning System is operational specifically for Delhi-NCR. It is also available for some specific Indian cities (Pune, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Ludhiana, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Coimbatore, Bhubaneswar, Ranchi, Patna, Raipur etc.). The final forecast is made available in terms of Air Quality Index (AQI) so that appropriate health advisories can be issued depending on severity of the pollution levels. The Air Quality Forecast spatial plots are available for the Indian region at https://ews.tropmet.res.in and https://ews.tropmet.res.in. Source : Health Advisory on Air Pollution