CSE welcomes launch of the national air quality index by the Union Environment Minister

LUCKNOW: Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has welcomed the release of the national air quality index and health advisory by Prakash Javadekar, Union minister for environment and forests. An air quality index (AQI) is a method by which daily air quality is classified according to actual concentration and described simply for informing people.

The index was prepared by an expert group set up by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests that includes prominent medical doctors from leading hospitals, research bodies including IIT Kanpur, and Centre for Science and Environment.

CSE has applauded the ministry’s new initiative of introducing a health advisory to inform people about the degree of severity of daily air quality and the health consequences. “This can help people take precautions on days that have poor air quality. Now one number, one colour and one description will help people to understand the quality of air they are breathing with the help of air quality index”, organization said.

Anumita Roychowdhury, CSE’s executive director-research and advocacy and head of its air pollution team said, “CSE has been demanding adoption of this programme as this can help people to understand the quality of air and the possible health effects. This is needed to demystify complex air quality data, help promote public awareness and build public pressure for effective air pollution control in cities.”

The government will now issue health alerts to people based on air quality index. Possible health consequences of each air quality band will be indicated separately to alert the vulnerable - especially the elderly, children and those already predisposed towards heart and respiratory problems. This will also indicate health consequences for general public during severe smoggy episodes. AQI will be implemented nationally in million plus cities first and then the next rung in the next phase.