About air pollution and air quality index

1. Environmental studies
project

2. Presentation title 2
1) Disha Rexwal
2) Gollavilli Reetu
3) Guddi
4) Lucky
5) Ridhima
6) Anzila
Submitted by:

3. Q- Study the air quality of Delhi of last 5 years of your area
which are the main pollutant contributing to the air
pollution. Analyse the monthly air quality of your area and
site the reason for the same is in which month the air
pollution is maximum and why ?suggest me measures which
have taken and which could be taken to reduced the air poll.
Also asses the impact of air pollution on human health?

4. • Air pollution is contamination of the indoor or outdoor environment by any
chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies the nature, characteristics of
the atmosphere, household combustion devices motor vehicles, industrial facilities
and forest fires are common sources of air pollution
• Play pollution hour of different kinds depending on the nature of pollutant
generated from different sources
• Example: industry, auto mobile timer power plants, farming, nuclear reactors,
generators, are different types of pollution and causing pollution to air , water
bodies and land
Presentation title 4
INTRODUCTION

5. Presentation title 5
Major air pollutant include carbon
monoxide(CO), Ammonia(NH3), Nitric
oxide (NO) , Nitrogen dioxide (NO2),
ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM),
Sulphur dioxide (SO2) and volatile
organic compounds (VOC)
Main Pollutants of Air

6. Presentation title 6
Causes of Air Pollution
• Burning of Fossil Fuels – The combustion of fossil fuel emits a large
amount of sulphur dioxide.
• Automobiles – The gases emitted from vehicles such as Jeep, cars,
trucks, bus etc pollute the environment .These are the major sources
of greenhouse gases.
• Agricultural activities - The insecticides, pesticides ad fertilisers emit
harmful chemicals in the atmosphere and contaminate it.

7. • Factories and industries – Factories and
industries are the major sources of carbon
monoxide, organic compounds,
hydrocarbons and chemicals. These are
released into the air and degrading its
quality.
• Mining activities – In the mining process,
mineral below the earth extracted using
large pieces of equipment. The dust
during the process not only pollute the air
but also deteriorate the health of workers
and people living in the nearby areas.

8. Presentation title 8
• Ozone layer depletion – The release of
chlorofluorocarbons in the atmosphere is
the major cause of depletion of the ozone
layer. The depleting ozone layer does not
prevent the harmful ultraviolet rays coming
from the sun and cause skin diseases and
eye problems.

9. Consequences of Air Pollution
Presentation title 9
• Diseases – Air pollution has resulted in several respiratory disorders and
heart diseases among humans. Children living near polluted areas are more
pone to pneumonia and asthma.
• Global Warming – Due to the emission of greenhouse gases, there is an
imbalance in the gaseous composition of the air. This has ld to an increase in
the earth’s temperature (global warming).
• Acid Rain – The burning of fossil fuels releases harmful gases such as
nitrogen oxides and sulphur oxides in the air. The water droplets combine
with these pollutants, become acidic and fall as acid rain which damages
human, animal and plant life.

10. Effects on human
• People experience a wide range of health effects from being exposed to air pollution.
Effects can be broken down into short-term effects and long-term effects.
Short-term effects, which are temporary, include illnesses such
as pneumonia or bronchitis. They also include discomfort such as irritation to the nose,
throat, eyes, or skin. Air pollution can also cause headaches, dizziness, and nausea.
Bad smells made by factories, garbage, or sewer systems are considered air pollution,
too. These odors are less serious but still unpleasant.
Long-term effects of air pollution can last for years or for an entire lifetime. They can
even lead to a person's death. 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. Nearly 2.5 million
people die worldwide each year from the effects of outdoor or indoor air pollution.
People react differently to different types of air pollution. Young children and older
adults, whose immune systems tend to be weaker, are often more sensitive to
pollution. Conditions such as asthma, heart disease, and lung disease can be made
worse by exposure to air pollution. The length of exposure and amount and type
of pollutants are also factors.
Presentation title 10

11. Effects on Environment
• Like people, animals, and plants, entire ecosystems can suffer effects from air
pollution. Haze, like smog, is a visible type of air pollution that obscures shapes and
colors. Hazy air pollution can even muffle sounds.
Air pollution particles eventually fall back to Earth. Air pollution can
directly contaminate the surface of bodies of water and soil. This can
kill crops or reducetheir yield. It can kill young trees and other plants.
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide particlesin the air, can create acid rain when they
mix with water and oxygen in the atmosphere. These air pollutants come mostly
from coal-fired power plants and motor vehicles. When acid rain falls to Earth, it
damages plants by changing soil composition; degrades water quality in rivers, lakes
and streams; damages crops; and can cause buildings and monuments to decay.
Like humans, animals can suffer health effects from exposure to air pollution. Birth
defects, diseases, and lower reproductive rates have all been attributed to air
pollution.
Presentation title 11

12. 5 YEAR DATA OF AIR QUALITY INDEX
Presentation title 12
• F
• Significant improvement in the air quality of Delhi was witnessed during
2022 as compared to the past years (barring the periods of very low
anthropogenic, industrial and commercial activities during the Covid
affected year 2020, owing to complete lockdowns and other restrictions),
pursuant to various preventive and mitigative field actions through
numerous statutory directions and orders of the Commission, covering all
major sectors contributing to the overall air quality. While restrictions were
also on for a considerable duration during 2021, the air quality indices viz.
PM10 and PM2.5concentrations in 2022 were even better than 2021.

13. Presentation title
• Comparative tabulations for various air quality related parameters for 2018, 2019, 2020,
2021 and 2022 respectively follow as under:
• Month wise daily average AQI for Delhi
Month 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
1. January 328 328 286 324 279
2. February 243 242 241 288 225
3. March 203 184 128 128 223
4. April 222 211 110 202 225
5. May 217 221 144 146 212
6. June 202 189 123 147 190
7. July 104 134 84 110 87
8. August 111 86 64 107 93
9. September 112 98 116 78 104
10. October 269 234 266 173 210
11. November 335 312 328 377 320
12. December 360 337 332 336 319

14. Presentation title 14
• The year 2022 witnessed 3 months (January, February and December) of
best ever daily average AQI and 3 months (July, October and November)
with
second best daily average AQI during the entire period from 2018 to
2022, even taking into account the Covid affected low activity years of
2020 and 2021. Exceptionally prolonged dry spells during April, May and
June in 2022, coupled with transportation of fine dust and particulate
matter not only from the adjoining areas but also transboundary, resulted
in poor AQI for these months, which otherwise was comparatively better
for all other months during 2022 vis-à-vis previous years.

15. Daily avg. AQI for Delhi during the
entire year
Year 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Daily Avg. AQI 225 215 185 209 209
The average daily AQI for Delhi during the entire year 2022 has been the best so far since
2015, barring 2020 which saw an exceptional AQI owing to continued spells of lockdown and
low anthropogenic activities round the year. While restrictions were also on for a considerable
duration during 2021 leading to low levels of industrial, vehicular and other anthropogenic
activities, the daily average AQI in 2022, with no such restrictions and all anthropogenic
activities returning to normal; rather in a much higher proportion, was maintained at the levels
of 2021. However, PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations and other related Air quality parameters in
2022 were even better than 2021 in some aspects.

16. • Comparative PM10 and PM2.5 Concentrations
• As per IMD data, in terms of daily average Particulate Matter
emissions (PM2.5 and PM10), the comparative concentration values in
Delhi read as under:

17. • The Year 2022 has thus witnessed the lowest ever recorded daily average values
for PM10 and PM2.5 respectively, barring the Covid affected 2020 with lowest
anthropogenic activities. Despite restrictions continuing also in 2021, the
PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations in 2022 (with all activities in full throttle in the
region) were even lower than those recorded in 2021.
Presentation title 17

18. Presentation title 18
• As per the CPCB criteria for the air quality category based on gradation of the
daily average AQI, the year 2022 witnessed most days with “Good” and
“Satisfactory” air quality (barring Covid affected 2020 and 2021).
• Likewise, a remarkable reduction in the number of days with “Severe” air
quality (AQI 401 – 450) was witnessed during 2022 as compared to all previous
years. Delhi was also saved of any “Severe+” day (AQI > 450) during 2022,
which was not the case in 3 previous years, including 2020 and 2021.
• Comparative hourly PM2.5 values for Delhi
Year No. of hours for which PM2.5 was in severe category
2021 628 hours ( 7.2 % of the total time of the year)
2022 204 hours (2.3% of total time of the year )

19. Presentation title 19

20. • Comparative hourly AQI Category for Delhi
Year No. of hours AQI was in good category ( AQI <200)
2021 827 hr
2022 1096 hr
• COMPARITIVE DELHI AQI AROUND DIWALI FESTIVAL
Year Pre diwali day Diwali day Post diwali day
2018 338 281* 390
2019 287 337 368
2020 339 414 435
2021 314 382 462
2022 259 312 303
Presentation title 20

21. • Better AQI attributed to rain around Diwali in 2018
• The above AQI tabulation for 3 days around Diwali festival indicates that never
before, the Delhi AQI around Diwali time was better than, as in 2022.
Presentation title 21

22. • The Post -Monsoon and Winter periods, from
October in a particular year up till February of the
next year, witness episodic events like extensive
farm burnings during paddy harvesting season,
bursting of crackers during religious festivals and
marriages/ other celebrations etc. Coupled with the
above, adverse climatic, meteorological, low
temperature and calm wind conditions that generally
prevail during winters in the entire region impede
effective dispersion of the pollutants from the region,
resulting in to a spike in the daily average AQI in
Delhi during the period. The year 2022 in particular,
witnessed the best air quality during post-monsoon
and winter months owing to continual efforts round
the year and concerted drives to prevent and abate
air polluting activities particularly during these
months.
Presentation title 22

23. • Invoking the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)
• The GRAP has been classified under Four different stages of Air Quality Index
(AQI) viz. Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), Severe (401-450) and Severe+
(more than 450). Preventive and restrictive actions, including bans on certain set
of activities also impacting the economy and livelihood options, are needed to be
imposed in NCR in adverse air quality scenarios as laid down in the GRAP.
Owing to a relatively better air quality during 2022, the No. of days for which
GRAP Stage III and above were required to be invoked were much lesser as
tabulated under:
• Year No. of days under GRAP stage 3 No. of days under GRAP
( including partial restriction) 4 ( include partial
restriction
2018 - 61
2019 52 135
2020 61 -
2021 07 23
2022 20 03
Presentation title 23

24. • With persistent field level efforts and targeted policy initiatives for
quantified results in the short/ medium/ long term, it is expected that air
quality scenario over Delhi will see further gradual but marked
improvement, year on year.
Presentation title 24

25. Measures to reduce air pollution
Presentation title 25
• Conserve energy - at home, at work, everywhere.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR label when buying home or office
equipment.
• Carpool, use public transportation, bike, or walk whenever possible.
• Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery, being
careful not to spill fuel and always tightening your gas cap securely.
• Consider purchasing portable gasoline containers labeled “spill-proof,”
where available.
• Keep car, boat, and other engines properly tuned.
• Be sure your tires are properly inflated.
• Use environmentally safe paints and cleaning products whenever
possible.
• Mulch or compost leaves and yard waste.
• Consider using gas logs instead of wood

26. Presentation title 26
ConclusionWe started off with a AQI level of 178 (Unhealthy) for the city of
Delhi. this level was too high due to the fact that it is one of the most
populated cities in the world without a "green culture"By analyzing the
causes and control chart we implemented a solution for this process for
which we were able lower the AQI to 98 which falls into the moderate
level.We Improved the Xmr chart by deleting the out-of- control points and
recalculating the control limits Once the process was stable we calculated
the process capability analysis to understand the sigma level and observe the
performance of the control chart

27. Presentation title 27