Air Quality Standards

Ambient air quality refers to the condition or quality of air surrounding us in the outdoors.
National Ambient Air Quality Standards are the standards for ambient air quality set by
the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that is applicable nationwide. The CPCB has
been conferred this power by the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981.

Ambient Air Quality Standards in India

The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 was enacted by the Central
Government with the objective of arresting the deterioration of air quality. The Air
(Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act 1981 describes the main functions of the Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB) as follows:

 To advise the Central Government on any matter concerning the improvement of the
quality the air and the prevention, control and abatement of air pollution.
 To plan and cause to be executed a nation-wide programme for the prevention, control
and abatement of air pollution.
 To provide technical assistance and guidance to the State Pollution Control Board.
 To carry out and sponsor investigations and research related to prevention, control and
abatement of air pollution.
 To collect, compile and publish technical and statistical data related to air pollution; and
 To lay down and annul standards for the quality of air

The mandate provided to the CPCB under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
empowers it to set standards for the quality of air.

The current National Ambient Air Quality Standards were notified on 18 November 2009 by
the Central Pollution Control Board.
Table 1: National Ambient Air Quality Standards

Pollutant Time Concentration in Ambient Air

Weighted
Average Industrial, Residential, Ecologically Sensitive Area
Rural and Other Areas (notified by Central
Government)
Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Annual* 50, 80 20, 80
µg/m3 24 hours**
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Annual* 40, 80 30, 80
µg/m3 24 hours**
Particulate Matter (size less Annual* 60, 100 60, 100
than 10 µm) or PM10 µg/m3 24 hours**
Particulate Matter (size less Annual* 40, 60 40, 60
than 2.5 µm) or PM2.5 µg/m3 24 hours**
Ozone (O3) µg/m3 8 hours* 100,180 100, 180
1 hour**
Lead (Pb) Annual* 0.50, 1.0 0.50, 1.0
µg/m3 24 hours**
Carbon Monoxide (CO) 8 hours* 02, 04 02, 04
mg/m3 1 hour**
Ammonia (NH3) µg/m3 Annual* 100, 400 100, 400
24 hours**
Benzene (C6H6) µg/m3 Annual* 5 5
Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP)- Annual* 1 1
particulate phase only,
ng/m3
Arsenic(As), Annual* 6 60
ng/m3
Nickel (Ni), Annual* 20 20
ng/m3
* Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week
24 hourly at uniform intervals.
** 24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values, as applicable, shall be complied with 98% of the time,
they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.
Source: National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Central Pollution Control Board Notification in the Gazette
of India, Extraordinary, New Delhi, 18th November, 2009

Prior to the November 2009 standards, India had set Air Quality standards on 11 April 1994,
and this was later revised on 14 October 1998. The 2009 standards further lowered the
maximum permissible limits for pollutants and made the standards uniform across the nation.
Earlier, less stringent standards were prescribed for industrial zones as compared to
residential areas.

Further, a new National Air Quality Index (AQI) has been launched in October 2014 to
disseminate information on air quality in an easily understandable form for the general
public. The measurement of air quality is based on eight pollutants, namely, PM10, PM2.5,
NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb for which short-term (up to 24-hourly averaging period)
National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed and the worst reading in these
pollutants represents the AQI for that city.

International Standards

The 2005 World Health Organization's "WHO Air quality guidelines" offer global guidance
on thresholds and limits for 4 key air pollutants that pose health risks - particulate matter
(PM), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

Guideline values prescribed by WHO are

PM2.5
10 μg/m3 annual mean
25 μg/m3 24-hour mean
PM10
20 μg/m3 annual mean
50 μg/m3 24-hour mean
O3
100 μg/m3 8-hour mean
NO2
40 μg/m3 annual mean
200 μg/m3 1-hour mean
SO2

20 μg/m3 24-hour mean

500 μg/m3 10-minute mean

The WHO Guidelines indicate that by reducing particulate matter (PM10) pollution from 70 to
20 micrograms per cubic metre (μg/m), air pollution-related deaths can be cut by around
15%. Indian Standards are slightly less stringent as compared to WHO guidelines. However,
the world's average PM10 levels by region range from 26 to 208 μg/m3, with a world's average
of 71 μg/m3 as per WHO estimates published in 2014.
 Many countries have their own Ambient Air Quality Standards prescribed for their territories.
The Clean Air Act in the US requires the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to set
National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). Two types of Ambient Air Quality
Standards are identified in the Clean Air Act: Primary standards provide public health
protection, including protecting the health of "sensitive" populations such as asthmatics,
children, and the elderly and Secondary standards provide public welfare protection,
including protection against decreased visibility and damage to animals, crops, vegetation,
and buildings. NAAQS has been set for six pollutants in the US, namely, carbon monoxide,
lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, particle pollution and sulphur dioxide. The values for these
pollutants may be seen here.

The European Union has also developed legislations on air quality standards. The pollutants
for which the standards are specified are: PM2.5, sulphur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide
(NO2), PM10, lead (Pb), carbon monoxide (CO), Benzene, Ozone, Arsenic (As), Cadmium
(Cd), Nickel (Ni), Polyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

Water Quality Standards

For any water body to function adequately in satisfying the desired use, it must have
corresponding degree of purity. Drinking water should be of highest purity. As the magnitude
of demand for water is fast approaching the available supply, the concept of management of
the quality of water is becoming as important as its quantity.

Each water use has specific quality need. Therefore, to set the standard for the desire quality
of a water body, it is essential to identify the uses of water in that water body. In India, the
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has developed a concept of designated best use.
According to this, out of the several uses of water of a particular body, the use which
demands highest quality is termed its designated best use. Five designated best uses have
been identified. This classification helps the water quality managers and planners to set water
quality targets and design suitable restoration programs for various water bodies.

Designated Best Uses of Water

Designated Best Use Class Criteria
Drinking Water Source without A 1.Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml shall be 50 or less
conventional treatment but after 2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5
disinfection 3. Dissolved Oxygen 6mg/l or more
4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 °C, 2mg/l or less
Outdoor bathing (Organised) B 1.Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml shall be 500 or less
2. pH between 6.5 and 8.5
3. Dissolved Oxygen 5mg/l or more
4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 °C, 3mg/l or less
Drinking water source after C 1. Total Coliforms Organism MPN/100ml shall be 5000 or less
conventional treatment and 2. pH between 6 and 9
disinfection 3. Dissolved Oxygen 4mg/l or more
4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 °C, 3mg/l or less
Propagation of Wild life and D 1. pH between 6.5 and 8.5
Fisheries 2. Dissolved Oxygen 4mg/l or more
3. Free Ammonia (as N)
4. Biochemical Oxygen Demand 5 days 20 °C, 2mg/l or less
Irrigation, Industrial Cooling, E 1. pH between 6.0 and 8.5
Controlled Waste disposal 2. Electrical Conductivity at 25 °C micro mhos/cm, maximum
2250
3. Sodium absorption Ratio Max. 26
4. Boron Max. 2mg/l
Below-E Not meeting any of the A, B, C, D & E criteria
Source: CPCB
 A colour coding frequently used to depict the quality of water on maps

Blue water This water can be directly used for drinking, industrial use, etc.

Green water Water contained in soil and plants is termed as green water

White water Atmospheric moisture is white water

Brown or grey water Various grades of wastewater are shown by brown or grey colour

In India, CPCB has identified water quality requirements in terms of a few chemical
characteristics, known as primary water quality criteria. Further, Bureau of Indian Standards
has also recommended water quality parameters for different uses in the standard
IS 2296:1992.

Water Quality Standards in India (Source IS 2296:1992)

Characteristics Designated best use

A B C D E

Dissolved Oxygen (DO)mg/l, min 6 5 4 4 -

Biochemical Oxygen demand (BOD)mg/l, 2 3 3 - -

max

Total coliform organisms MPN/100ml, 50 500 5,000 - -

max

pH value 6.5-8.5 6.5-8.5 6.0-9.0 6.5-8.5 6.0-8.5

Colour, Hazen units, max. 10 300 300 - -

Odour Un-objectionable - -
Taste Tasteless - - - -

Total dissolved solids, mg/l, max. 500 - 1,500 - 2,100

Total hardness (as CaCO3), mg/l, max. 200 - - - -

Calcium hardness (as CaCO3), mg/l, max. 200 - - - -

Magnesium hardness (as CaCO3), mg/l, 200 - - - -

max.

Copper (as Cu), mg/l, max. 1.5 - 1.5 - -

Iron (as Fe), mg/l, max. 0.3 - 0.5 - -

Manganese (as Mn), mg/l, max. 0.5 - - - -

Cholorides (as Cu), mg/l, max. 250 - 600 - 600

Sulphates (as SO4), mg/l, max. 400 - 400 - 1,000

Nitrates (as NO3), mg/l, max. 20 - 50 - -

Fluorides (as F), mg/l, max. 1.5 1.5 1.5 - -

Phenolic compounds (as C2H5OH), mg/l, 0.002 0.005 0.005 - -

max.

Mercury (as Hg), mg/l, max. 0.001 - - - -

Cadmium (as Cd), mg/l, max. 0.01 - 0.01 - -

Salenium (as Se), mg/l, max. 0.01 - 0.05 - -

Arsenic (as As), mg/l, max. 0.05 0.2 0.2 - -

Cyanide (as Pb), mg/l, max. 0.05 0.05 0.05 - -

Lead (as Pb), mg/l, max. 0.1 - 0.1 - -

Zinc (as Zn), mg/l, max. 15 - 15 - -

Chromium (as Cr6+), mg/l, max. 0.05 - 0.05 - -

Anionic detergents (as MBAS), mg/l, max. 0.2 1 1 - -

Barium (as Ba), mg/l, max. 1 - - - -

Free Ammonia (as N), mg/l, max - - - 1.2 -

Electrical conductivity, micromhos/cm, - - - - 2,250

max

Sodium absorption ratio, max - - - - 26

Boron, mg/l, max - - - - 2

Guidelines are available to evaluate quality of water for irrigation. For irrigation, water can
be classified in five classes depending upon its chemical properties.

Guidelines for Evaluation of Irrigation Water Quality

Water class Sodium (Na) % Electrical SAR RSC meq/l

conductivity
(mS/cm)

Excellent < 20 < 250 < 10 < 1.25

Good 20 - 40 250 – 750 10 – 18 1.25 – 2.0

Medium 40 - 60 750 – 2,250 18 – 26 2.0 – 2.5

Bad 60 – 80 2,250 – 4,000 > 26 2.5 – 3.0

Very bad > 80 > 4,000 > 26 > 3.0

Drinking Water Specifications (IS 10,500:1991)

Characteristics Desirable limit Permissible limit

Essential Characteristics

Colour, Hazen Units, Max 5 25

Odour Unobjectionable -

Taste Agreeable -

Turbidity, NTU, Max 5 10

PH value 6.5 to 8.5 -

Total Hardness (as CaCo3), mg/l, Max 300 600

Iron (as Fe), mg/l, Max 0.3 1.0

Chlorides (as Cl), mg/l, Max 250 1,000

Residual free chlorine, mg/l, Max 0.2 -

Desirable Characteristics

Dissolved solids, mg/l, Max 500 2,000

Calcium as (Ca), mg/l, Max 75 200

Magnesium (as Mg), mg/l, Max 30 75

Copper (as Cu), mg/l, Max 0.05 1.5

Manganese (as Mn), mg/l, Max 0.1 0.3

Sulphate (as So4), mg/l, Max 200 400

Nitrate (as No3), mg/l, Max 45 100

Flouride (as F0, mg/l, Max 1.0 1.5

Phenolic compounds (as C6H5OH), mg/l, 0.001 0.002

Max

Mercury (as Hg), mg/l, Max 0.001 -

Cadmium (as Cd), mg/l, Max 0.01 -

Selenium (as Se), mg/l, Max 0.01 -

Arsenic (as As), mg/l, Max 0.05 -

Cyanide (as CN), mg/l, Max 0.05

Lead (as Pb), mg/l, Max 0.05 -

Anionic detergents (as MBAS), mg/l, Max 0.02 1.0

Chromium (as Cr6+), mg/l, Max 0.05 -

PAH, mg/l, Max - -

Mineral oil, mg/l, Max 0.01 0.03

Pesticides, mg/l, MAX Absent 0.001

Alkalinity, mg/l, Max 200 600

Aluminum (as Al), mg/l, Max 0.03 0.2

Boron, mg/l, Max 1 5

WATER QUALITY Water is usually tasteless, odorless, colorless and, a liquid in its pure
state. But, water is one of the best naturally occurring solvents on earth and almost any
substance will dissolve in it to some degree. This is why it is seldom found in its “pure” state
and it usually contains several impurities (gases, solids, color). Water falling to earth as rain
dissolves some of the gases in the atmosphere and when it falls on the earth and percolates
through it, it dissolves the minerals present in the earth. Water Sources: Surface waters are
those that come from rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and reservoirs, while ground waters come
from wells, mines and springs. Ground water usually contains large amounts of dissolved
substances (minerals) because it percolates( slowly filters) through rock and soil formations.
The greater the depth below ground from which the ground water comes, the higher the level
of dissolved minerals in the water. However, since it percolates through the earth, ground
water contains relatively small quantities of suspended impurities and very little color. In
contrast, surface waters contain lower levels of dissolved minerals , but higher suspended
impurities , color and industrial pollutants. Physical Impurities: These are usually in the form
of suspended impurities and color which can be separated from the water by filtration.
Suspended impurities are usually due to soil erosion and this silt gives the water a hazy
appearance. This is referred to as ‘turbidity’ and will often settle out slowly in reservoirs or
tanks when this water is retained in these for some time. Odor and taste in water are due to
the presence of dissolved gases such as sulfides, micro organisms, natural organic
contaminants such as lignins, tannins and humic acids, and, increasingly now, due to
industrial contaminants.

Color and turbidity are usually measured by instruments available for these purposes and are
expressed in “Hazen units” for color and in “Nephlometric Turbidity Units (Ntu)” for
turbidity. Mineral impurities: Water dissolves the minerals present in the strata of soil it filers
through in the case of ground water and, in the case of surface water, the minerals present in
the soil over which it flows (rivers/streams) or over which it stands (lakes, ponds,
reservoirs).The dissolved minerals in water are commonly referred to as Total Dissolved
Solids (TDS). The TDS content of any water is expressed in milligrams /litre (mg/l) or in
parts per million (ppm). The minerals are basically compounds (salts) of Calcium(Ca),
Magnesium(Mg) and Sodium(Na) What is commonly called as ‘hardness in water’ is due to
the compounds/salts of Ca and Mg such as Calcium or Magnesium Chloride, Calcium or
Magnesium Sulphate ( CaSo4, MgCl, etc).In some areas of India, there are ground waters
which contain fluoride salts of Ca and Mg. Fluoride in water above 1.5 mg/l is dangerous and
causes a disease called ‘Fluorosis’ which affects the teeth and the bones of humans who
consume water with high levels of fluoride. Iron is another contaminant/impurity which is not
safe for human consumption if it is present in water in excess of 0.3 mg/l. In several parts of
eastern India, Arsenic is an impurity which has been found in ground water and needs to be
removed as it is a slow poison. Organic Impurities: The upper layer of the earth’s crust
contain residual vegetable and animal matter along with bacteria and other micro-organisms.
Surface waters therefore usually contain some organic matter (tannins, lignins, humic acid,
fulvic acid) and are more readily exposed to biological contamination. Surface waters are
subject to seasonal changes because of rainfall and also due to domestic as well as industrial
pollution. Agricultural run offs which bring with it pesticides and fertilizer residues are
starting to cause serious problems with the use of surface waters. The constituent nutrients of
fertilizers such as phosphorus and nitrogen can cause rapid, wide spread growths called “algal
blooms” in lakes, ponds and reservoirs Ground waters were relatively free from such
contamination because of the filtering effect of the strata of soil through which the water
percolates, but, over the decades industrial contaminants have begun to show up even in
ground waters. This is because of the laxity in implementing/enforcing pollution control laws
as a result of which untreated domestic and industrial effluents which has been discharged
into open land has over the years percolated down to the water table and contaminated the
ground water.

This shows up in water in the form of BOD (biodegradable/biochemical oxygen demand) and
COD (combined oxygen demand).These are two important parameters normally associated
with effluents which are an indication of the extent of contamination which have now begun
to show up in ground water and to a greater extent in surface water. Standards of Water for
Human Consumption: Drinking water for human beings should contain some level of
minerals(TDS), but these levels should not be excessive.

This standard used the WHO standard as the basis and has been amended subsequently to
take into account the fact that over exploitation of ground water which has the largest share of
water supplied for human use has deteriorated to such an extent that the crucial parameters
such as TDS, hardness, Chlorides, etc usually exceed the desirable levels substantially.
Consequently, a higher permissible limit has been specified. Water used for drinking
becomes unpalatable when the TDS level is above 500 mg/l, but lack of any better source
enables people consuming such water to get used to its taste.