Table of Contents

  1. Preface
India
Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981

National Ambient Air Quality Standards

  • Published on 18 November 2009
  • Commenced
  • [This is the version of this document from 18 November 2009.]
No.B-29016/20/90/PCI-L—In exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-section (2) (h) of section 16 of the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 (Act No. 14 of 1981), and in super session of the Notification No(s). S.O. 384(E), dated 11th April, 1994 and S.O. 935(E), dated 14th October, 1998, the Central Pollution Control Board hereby notify the National Ambient Air Quality Standards with immediate effect, namely:—
s. No.PollutantTime Weighted averageConcentration in Ambient AirMethods of Measurement
Industrial, Residential, Rural and Other AreaEcologically sensitive area (notified by Central Govt.)
(1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)
1Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), μg/m3Annual*5020Improved West and GeakeUltraviolet fluorescence
24 hours**8080
2Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), μg/m3Annual*4030Modified Jacob & Hochheiser (Na-Arsenite)Chemiluminescence
24 hours**8080
3Particulate Matter (size less than 10μm) or PM10 μg/m3Annual*6060GravimetricTOEMBeta attenuation
24 hours**100100
4Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 microns) or PM2.5 μg/m3Annual*4040GravimetricTOEMBeta attenuation
24 hours**6060
5Ozone (O3) μg/m38 hours**100100UV photometricChemiluminescenceChemical method
1 hour**180180
6Lead (Pb) μg/m3Annual*0.50.5ASS/ICP method after sampling on EPM 2000 or equivalent filter paperED - XRF using Teflon filter
24 hours**1.01.0
7Carbon Monoxide (CO) mg/m38 hours**22Non Dispersive Infra RED (NDIR) Spectroscopy
1 hour**44
8Ammonia (NH3) μg/m3Annual*100100ChemiluminescenceIndophenol blue method
24 hours**400400
9Benzene (C6H6) a μg/m3Annual*55Gas chromatography based continuous analyserAdsorption and desorption followed by GC analysis
10Benzo (a) Pyrene (BaP) - particulate phase only ng/m3Annual*11Solvent extraction followed by HPLC/GC analysis
11Arsenic (As) ng/m3Annual*66AAS/ICP method after sampling on EPM 2000 or equivalent filter paper
12Nickel (Ni) ng/m3Annual*2020AAS/ICP method after sampling on EPM 2000 or equivalent filter paper
*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 in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.*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 in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.*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 in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.*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 in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.**24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values, as applicable, shall be complied with 98% of the time in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.**24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values, as applicable, shall be complied with 98% of the time in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.*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 in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.**24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values, as applicable, shall be complied with 98% of the time in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.**24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values, as applicable, shall be complied with 98% of the time in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.*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 in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on two consecutive days of monitoring.*Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform intervals.*Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform intervals.*Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform intervals.*Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year at a particular site taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform intervals.
[Note: Whenever and wherever monitoring results on two consecutive days of monitoring exceed the limits specified above for the respective category, it shall be considered adequate reason to institute regular or continuous monitoring and further investigation.]