Any agent that alters the natural properties of the atmosphere, whether it be chemical, physical, or biological, is considered an air pollutant. Air pollution can occur indoors or outdoors. It raises the chances of getting respiratory infections, heart disease, and lung cancer.
Short-term and long-term exposure to air pollutants has been linked to negative health effects. People who are already sick face more severe consequences. Children, the elderly, and the poor are more vulnerable. Breathing clean air can reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, and chronic and acute respiratory illnesses such as asthma. Lower levels of air pollution are better for both long-term and short-term heart and respiratory health.
Under the national programme on electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs), the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Kolkata, in collaboration with TeXMIN, ISM, Dhanbad, has developed an outdoor air quality monitoring station to monitor environmental pollutants like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10.0, Sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O2), ambient temperature, relative humidity, etc, for continuous air quality analysis of the environment, according to the ministry statement.
The secretary launched the air quality monitoring system on Tuesday (January 17).
According to a statement from the ministry, the technology for the Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0) was also given to the chosen company JM EnviroLab for further commercialization and deployment at various mines and cement industries.
The transfer of technology (ToT) took place at MeitY, New Delhi, where Deepa Taneja, CEO of JM EnviroLab, and Debasis Mazumdar, senior director and centre head of C-DAC, Kolkata, signed the ToT agreement.
Alkesh Kumar Sharma, secretary, Bhuvnesh Kumar, additional secretary, Sunita Verma, group coordinator, MeitY, and Naveen Kumar Vidyarthi, director (IT), MoEFCC, among others, were present when the document was signed.
