Air Quality Index (AQI) is a number used to convey the quality of air by the government to the general public.
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According to the Indian Government, Indian AQI range is from 0-500, from 0 being good and 500 being severe.
The eight major pollutants include particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), and lead (Pb).
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To calculate AQI, data for a minimum of three pollutants must be present, of which one should be either PM10 or PM2.5
Indian AQI and probable health impacts:
0-50 - Good air quality, minimal to no health impact.
51-100 - Satisfactory, can cause breathing difficulty in sensitive groups.
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101-200 - Moderate, might cause breathing difficulty in children, elderly people, and those suffering from lung and heart disorders.
201-300 - Poor air quality, shows health impact over long term exposure. People with heart disorders might experience discomfort over short term exposure.
301-400 - Very poor air quality, long term exposure causes respiratory illnesses.
401-500 - Severely poor, impacts health of normal as well as diseased groups.