Health and Me

Ishita Roy

AQI Explained: It’s Not Temperature, As Delhi CM Says, Here’s What the Air Quality Index Really Means

Delhi's AQI on Tuesday morning seemed to be doing somewhat better than Monday morning. The AQI has brought some relief to the residents who had been dealing with 'severe' pollution levels, with visibility being hit. As per Tuesday's AQI, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's air pollution stood at 381 AQI as of 6.30 am. This has placed the air quality in the 'very poor' category.

While it has become a habit of many to check AQI before stepping out of the house, how many of us actually understand what AQI really means?

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/8-red-flags-that-may-suggest-cancer-growth-in-your-body-article-153299924" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">8 Red Flags That May Suggest Cancer Growth In Your Body</a>

Recently, Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta claimed that AQI and temperature are the same. At a summit hosted by a news channel, Delhi CM Gupta referred to AQI as "temperature". 

Such statements could further lead to misconceptions, and add to everyday confusions. Health and Me is breaking down what AQI really means and why is it not the same as temperature. 

<h2>How Air Quality Index Work And What It Means</h2>

As the Delhi CM claimed that AQI is like temperature and could be "measured using any instrument", is not true. Though it is understandable why such comparisons may have been drawn as you can easily check the AQI report on your phones, like we do with temperature. 

However, in real sense, AQI or the air quality index is a tool used for communicating outdoor air quality and health. The AQI includes six-color coded categories, each of which corresponds to a range of index values. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. 

Air quality is made of dust and small particles like PM2.5 and PM10, along with gases like nitrogen dioxide from car exhaust, sulphur dioxide from factories, and carbon monoxide from vehicles. The levels are measured through specialized machines. In India, the standard of the machines are carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board or CPCB.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/the-triangle-of-death-on-your-face-why-you-should-never-pop-a-pimple-there-article-153300499" data-type="tilCustomLink" target="_blank">The “Triangle of Death” on Your Face: Why You Should Never Pop a Pimple There</a> 

As per a review of Delhi's air quality from 1990 to 2022, published in Sustainability (MDPI), an open access journal, these are the following sources of Delhi's Air Pollution:

<ul><li>Transports emit around 10 to 30% of pollution. This includes all road, rail, and aviation modes and combustion of petrol, diesel, and gas. </li></ul>

<ul><li>Dust make up another 10 to 30% of pollution. Dust from resuspension on the roads and construction activities. </li></ul>

<ul><li>All industries, including small, medium, and large industries, including power plants and brick kilns lead to 10 to 30% of pollution. </li></ul>

<ul><li>In summers, all residential activities, including cooking, lighting, and heating activities lead to 10% of pollution, whereas in winter, it makes up for 30%.</li></ul>

<ul><li>Waste burning, including residential sides and landfills leads to 5 to 15% of pollution. </li></ul>

Power plants from outside the city leads to less than 7% of pollution. Dust storms contribute to less than 5% of pollution. Agricultural residue burning, which is a seasonal source of pollution leads to less than 3% of pollution, whereas firecrackers, another seasonal source, leads to less than 1% of pollution.

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Delhi's AQI on Tuesday morning seemed to be doing somewhat better than Monday morning. The AQI has brought some relief to the residents who had been dealing with 'severe' pollution levels, with visibility being hit. As per Tuesday's AQI, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's air pollution stood at 381 AQI as of 6.30 am. This has placed the air quality in the 'very poor' category.While it has become a habit of many to check AQI before stepping out of the house, how many of us actually understand what AQI really means?Also Read: 8 Red Flags That May Suggest Cancer Growth In Your BodyRecently, Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta claimed that AQI and temperature are the same. At a summit hosted by a news channel, Delhi CM Gupta referred to AQI as "temperature". Such statements could further lead to misconceptions, and add to everyday confusions. Health and Me is breaking down what AQI really means and why is it not the same as temperature. How Air Quality Index Work And What It MeansAs the Delhi CM claimed that AQI is like temperature and could be "measured using any instrument", is not true. Though it is understandable why such comparisons may have been drawn as you can easily check the AQI report on your phones, like we do with temperature. However, in real sense, AQI or the air quality index is a tool used for communicating outdoor air quality and health. The AQI includes six-color coded categories, each of which corresponds to a range of index values. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and the greater the health concern. Air quality is made of dust and small particles like PM2.5 and PM10, along with gases like nitrogen dioxide from car exhaust, sulphur dioxide from factories, and carbon monoxide from vehicles. The levels are measured through specialized machines. In India, the standard of the machines are carried out by the Central Pollution Control Board or CPCB.Also Read: The “Triangle of Death” on Your Face: Why You Should Never Pop a Pimple There What Makes Delhi So Polluted?As per a review of Delhi's air quality from 1990 to 2022, published in Sustainability (MDPI), an open access journal, these are the following sources of Delhi's Air Pollution:Transports emit around 10 to 30% of pollution. This includes all road, rail, and aviation modes and combustion of petrol, diesel, and gas. Dust make up another 10 to 30% of pollution. Dust from resuspension on the roads and construction activities. All industries, including small, medium, and large industries, including power plants and brick kilns lead to 10 to 30% of pollution. In summers, all residential activities, including cooking, lighting, and heating activities lead to 10% of pollution, whereas in winter, it makes up for 30%.Waste burning, including residential sides and landfills leads to 5 to 15% of pollution. Power plants from outside the city leads to less than 7% of pollution. Dust storms contribute to less than 5% of pollution. Agricultural residue burning, which is a seasonal source of pollution leads to less than 3% of pollution, whereas firecrackers, another seasonal source, leads to less than 1% of pollution.

aqi explained: it’s not temperature, as delhi cm says, here’s what the air quality index really means

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