Correct option is C
The correct answer is (c).
Introduction
Under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) revised in 2009 by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) of India, the permissible annual average concentration for Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in residential, industrial, and other areas is established at 40 μg/m³.
Information Booster
- The NAAQS 2009 sets uniform standards for industrial, residential, rural, and other areas, eliminating the earlier discrepancies between these zones.
- For NO2, while the annual average limit is 40 μg/m³, the 24-hour average permissible limit is set at 80 μg/m³.
- Nitrogen dioxide is a highly reactive gas primarily emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicular engines and power plants.
- Prolonged exposure to NO2 exacerbates respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, and reduces overall lung function.
- The CPCB derives its authority to set these standards from the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981.
- Historically, the 2009 revision expanded the list of monitored parameters to 12, adding PM2.5, Ozone, Lead, Ammonia, Benzene, and others to reflect evolving environmental health science.
- 60 μg/m³ is the annual average standard for PM2.5 (Particulate Matter less than 2.5 micrometers) in residential areas under the same 2009 NAAQS.
- 100 μg/m³ represents the 24-hour average limit for PM10 (Particulate Matter less than 10 micrometers).
- 5 μg/m³ is the annual average limit for Benzene (C6H6), a known human carcinogen, in ambient air.
- For historical context, the first ambient air quality standards in India were adopted in 1982, heavily influenced by the aftermath of global environmental conferences and rising industrialization.
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