AQI Index - EXPLAINED: What is Air Quality Index and how it is calculated? What are necessary precautions against pollution

What is AQI Index: The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used by government agencies to measure the quality of air. AQI measure all the details from air quality sensor which increases due to pollution such as forest fire, construction, traffic, firecrackers, etc.  

There are 6 AQI category marks - Good, Satisfactory, Moderately polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.  

Each category has a specific colour. The colour makes it easy to determine whether air quality is worsening to unhealthy levels for people. 

The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater risk for health. For example, an AQI value of 50 or below represents good air quality, while an AQI value over 300 represents hazardous air quality.  

Image credit PIB

Each category is decided based on concentration values of air pollutants and their likely health impacts. AQ sub-index and health breakpoints are evolved for eight pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO, O3, NH3, and Pb) for which short-term (up to 24-hours) National Ambient Air Quality Standards are prescribed.  

How AQI is calculated?  

The Sub-indices for individual pollutants at a monitoring location are calculated using its 24-hourly average concentration value (8-hourly in case of CO and O3) and health breakpoint concentration range. 

AQI Delhi: Causes of air pollution 

1. Reduced airflow  

2. Use of excessive firecrackers and other lightening on the occasion of Diwali.  

3. Stubble burning by farmers of Haryana and Punjab  

4. Extreme increase in the number of vehicles  

5. Vehiclular emission  

6. Construction and demolition pollutants 

AQI Today: How to take precautions against air pollution

Air pollution affects health in various ways. The specific disease outcomes most strongly linked with exposure to air pollution include stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and pneumonia.

How you can protect yourself from air pollution:

• Use face marks when outdoor
• Restrict outdoor activities
• Ventilate our home
• Take steam
• Use public transport