(a) the details of the quantity of pollutants found in the air at various locations across the country during the last
three years;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any study about the diseases caused by the air pollutants; and
(c) if so, the outcome of the said study?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT & FORESTS(SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)
(a) The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is monitoring ambient air quality at 332 locations covering 121 cities and
towns in 25 States and 4 Union Territories across the Country under the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP).
Levels of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) in ambient air are monitored to
ascertain its quality.
As per available data, annual average concentration of Sulphur Dioxide is within the prescribed National Ambient Air Quality
Standards (NAAQS) in all the monitored cities in residential areas. Annual average concentration of NOx is also within the
prescribed limit of NAAQS in most of the cities in residential areas. However, the annual average concentration of
Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) exceeds the prescribed NAAQS in residential areas.
(b)&(c) The Central Pollution Control Board has sponsored two epidemiological studies to the Chittranjan National Cancer
Institute, Kolkata which are under finalisation.