18: Air Quality

Air quality refers to the degree to which the air is suitable or clean enough for the humans or the environment.

The air quality of a place is important because it can directly or indirectly have health impacts as well as environmental impacts as well. The change in both caused at an individual level as well as at an organizational level. At individual levels the traffic generated by employees going to work causes an increase in the emission levels. There are various devices and technologies used to measure air quality levels like laser-based technologies, chemiluminescence, flame ionization, etc. These devices are, for instance, when located close to the traffic, far from the traffic and close to industrial zones show different data readings which are further compiled into a value scale, called the Air Quality Index (AQI).

Air quality standards are set based on two scenarios:

1. Indoor air quality Standards
2. Outdoor air quality Standards
   In India, the Centre for Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has set the standards to measure the Ambient air quality in India. These standards are set for certain pollutants like : PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. These pollutants can have an adverse impact on human health and environment. Exposure to air pollution is estimated to have been millions of deaths. This is now recognized as one of the major environmental threats and almost at par with other major global health risks.
   Air pollution can be categorized as :
   i) Visible air pollution
   ii) Invisible air pollution

The impact of this can be seen at 3 geographic levels:
Local:This concerns the quality of ambient air within a radius of a few kms.
Regional:Secondary Pollution like acid rain, photochemical reactions and degradation of water quality due to air pollution at distances of a few kilometers to a thousand kilometers
Global:Depletion of the ozone layer and global warming caused by the emission of greenhouse gasses and ozone depleting substances.

Industry Best Practices

There are three basic strategies to improve indoor air quality:

Source Control:

Building materials and paints act as a major source of pollution for indoor air quality. This can be improved by reducing emissions from some sources, such as asbestos-containing materials, by sealing or enclosing them, while gas stoves can have their settings changed. Source control is a more economical method of preserving indoor air quality than boosting ventilation because the latter might raise energy expenses.

Improved Ventilation:

Ventilation in a household or a commercial space acts as a major contributor of good air quality. Natural ventilation is important for eliminating pollutants in the atmosphere. When performing short-term tasks that can produce high levels of pollutants, such as painting, paint stripping, heating with kerosene heaters, cooking, or engaging in maintenance and hobby activities like welding, soldering, or sanding.

Installing Air purifiers/ plants:

The Environmental Protection Agency does not recommend utilizing air cleaners to lower radon levels and its decay products. This is because they do not reduce the quantity of radon entering the residence and only partially remove the decayed particles. Air purifiers would be helpful for people who have high sensitivity towards these pollutants and have nasal vascular health issues.

Outdoor air quality Prevention

While monitoring air pollution helps us detect the pollution peaks, better air quality prevention measures can be taken to help reduce air quality in our surroundings.

• Renewable fuel and green energy transition:

The most basic solution for air pollution is to move away from fossil fuels, replacing them with alternative energies like solar, wind and geothermal.

• Energy conservation and efficiency:

Producing clean energy is crucial and it is equally important to reduce our consumption of energy by adopting responsible habits and using more efficient devices.

• Switch to eco Friendly transportation:

Shifting to electric vehicles and hydrogen vehicles, and promoting shared mobility (i.e carpooling, and public transports) could reduce air pollution.

• Green building:

From planning to demolition, green building aims to create environmentally responsible and resource-efficient structures to reduce their carbon footprint.

Case study

Nano-clean tech : Clean Air at Rs.10

Nano-clean tech is an Indian startup based out of Delhi that came to market with "Nasofilter" at the beginning of 2017, a type of nasal filter that costs merely Rs 10. The business introduced AC filters this year that can transform any AC into an air purifier at a cost of Rs 399. The company's creators realized there was a larger demand for a product that could effectively combat pollution while being reasonably priced and unobtrusive compared to competing goods. In order to ensure there is no pressure drop when breathing and to facilitate simple breathing with the respiratory mask, Nasofilter was developed utilizing nanotechnology. By lowering the thread diameter of a typical cloth by 100 times, scientists have developed nanofibers that can filter out contaminants.
Exports to nations and regions including Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Gulf, France, and the UK account for 75% of the startup's revenue. The air is electrified and full of potential for Nanoclean.

Device Earth

Device Earth is a Bangalore based Green-tech company. They have built an air purifying technology which operates using cutting-edge pulsed radio wave technology. The target area can be covered by a network of devices. When Pure Skies is plugged in, radio waves in the 2.5 GHz range are released into the atmosphere, temporarily charging the airborne PM2.5 and PM10 particles and bringing their positive and negative ions together. Particulate matter in the air is naturally cleared by a process known as dry deposition, which is accelerated by this induced charge. As a result, PM2.5 and PM10 levels are reduced by 33–90%. NCAP specifies a 5-year window for achieving a 20%–30% decrease. Large-scale air pollution is addressed by Clean Skies. The device may cover a radius of up to 3 kilometers without using filters, and it requires no maintenance. The business collaborates with businesses, smart cities, and industries, and is quickly becoming the leader in ambient air pollution reduction technologies. Pure Skies is an inexpensive option because it covers expansive areas without the use of filters or other pricey machinery.