top of page
Search
  • jeannebor2x

Download CPCB Air Quality Data for Your City and Region



CPCB Air Quality Data Download: How and Why to Use It




Air pollution is one of the most serious environmental problems in India, affecting millions of people's health and well-being. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India has 14 of the world's 20 most polluted cities, with levels of particulate matter (PM) and other harmful pollutants exceeding the safe limits by several times. To address this challenge, it is essential to have reliable and accurate data on the air quality in different locations and times.




cpcb air quality data download




One of the main sources of such data in India is the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), which is a statutory organization under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. In this article, we will explain what CPCB is, how it collects and publishes air quality data, how you can access and download this data, why this data is important and useful, and how you can interpret and use it for various purposes.


What is CPCB and what does it do?




CPCB was established in 1974 under the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and later entrusted with the functions under the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981. Its main objectives are to promote cleanliness of streams and wells, to improve the quality of air, and to prevent, control, or abate water and air pollution in the country.


CPCB's role in monitoring and regulating air pollution in India




CPCB performs various functions related to monitoring and regulating air pollution in India, such as:


  • Planning nationwide programs for the prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution.



  • Coordinating the activities of state pollution control boards (SPCBs) and providing technical assistance and guidance to them.



  • Laying down standards for the quality of ambient air, emission or discharge of pollutants from various sources, noise levels, etc.



  • Advising the central government on any matter concerning the improvement of the quality of air or the prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution.



  • Collecting, compiling, publishing, and disseminating information relating to air pollution.



  • Conducting research and development activities on various aspects of air pollution.



  • Providing training to personnel engaged or likely to be engaged in programs relating to prevention, control, or abatement of air pollution.



  • Organizing mass awareness programs on air pollution issues.



CPCB's data sources and methods for measuring air quality




CPCB collects air quality data from various sources, such as:


  • National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (NAAQM) network: This is a network of over 700 monitoring stations across 300 cities/towns in India that measure various parameters of ambient air quality, such as PM10, PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3), benzene, toluene, xylene, etc. The data is collected on a continuous or manual basis, depending on the type of instrument used.



  • National Air Quality Index (AQI) network: This is a network of over 100 monitoring stations across 34 cities/towns in India that provide real-time data on the AQI, which is a single number that represents the overall air quality at a given location and time. The AQI is calculated based on eight pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, O3, CO, NH3, and Pb. The AQI has six color-coded categories: Good, Satisfactory, Moderately Polluted, Poor, Very Poor, and Severe.



  • Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS): This is a system that monitors the emission of pollutants from various industrial sources, such as power plants, cement plants, steel plants, etc. The data is transmitted to CPCB and SPCBs online for compliance verification and enforcement actions.



  • Source Apportionment Studies: These are studies that identify and quantify the contribution of various sources of air pollution in a given area, such as vehicular emissions, biomass burning, industrial emissions, dust, etc. CPCB has conducted such studies in several cities/towns in India using various methods, such as receptor modeling, chemical mass balance, emission inventory, etc.



How to access and download CPCB air quality data?




CPCB publishes and disseminates its air quality data through various platforms and formats, such as:


Real-time air quality data from CPCB website and mobile app




CPCB provides real-time data on the AQI and the concentrations of various pollutants from its AQI network on its website () and its mobile app (SAMEER). The website and the app allow users to view the current and historical data for any station in the network, as well as compare the data across different stations and cities. The website and the app also provide information on the health effects and precautions for each AQI category.


To download the real-time air quality data from CPCB website or app, users can follow these steps:


  • Select the station or city of interest from the drop-down menu or the map.



  • Click on the "Download Data" button at the bottom of the page.



  • Select the date range and the time interval for which the data is required.



  • Select the format of the data file (CSV or Excel).



  • Click on the "Download" button to save the file on your device.



Historical air quality data from CPCB ENVIS portal and API




CPCB provides historical data on various parameters of ambient air quality from its NAAQM network on its ENVIS portal (). The portal allows users to access and download monthly or annual data for any station in the network from 1987 to 2019. The portal also provides information on the monitoring methods and instruments used by CPCB.


cpcb air quality index data download


cpcb air quality monitoring data download


cpcb air quality data analysis


cpcb air quality data portal


cpcb air quality data api


cpcb air quality data csv


cpcb air quality data delhi


cpcb air quality data 2022


cpcb air quality data app


cpcb air quality data login


cpcb ambient air quality data download


cpcb real time air quality data download


cpcb continuous monitoring air quality data download


cpcb manual monitoring air quality data download


cpcb agra air quality data download


cpcb special monitoring air quality data download


cpcb ncr air quality data download


cpcb air quality forecast data download


cpcb historical air quality data download


cpcb daily aqi bulletin pdf download


cpcb live air quality index download


cpcb pm2.5 and pm10 concentration data download


cpcb live air quality data of monitoring stations download


cpcb dataspace princeton edu air quality data download


cpcb analysis of air quality data in india download


how to download cpcb air quality data


where to download cpcb air quality data


why to download cpcb air quality data


benefits of downloading cpcb air quality data


challenges of downloading cpcb air quality data


best practices for downloading cpcb air quality data


tips for downloading cpcb air quality data


tools for downloading cpcb air quality data


sources for downloading cpcb air quality data


methods for downloading cpcb air quality data


formats for downloading cpcb air quality data


options for downloading cpcb air quality data


steps for downloading cpcb air quality data


examples of downloading cpcb air quality data


tutorials for downloading cpcb air quality data


To download the historical air quality data from CPCB ENVIS portal, users can follow these steps:


  • Select the station or city of interest from the drop-down menu.



  • Select the year or month for which the data is required.



  • Select the parameter of interest from the list of pollutants.



  • Click on the "View Data" button to see the data in a table format.



  • Click on the "Export to Excel" button to save the file on your device.



CPCB also provides an Application Programming Interface (API) for accessing its historical air quality data from its NAAQM network. The API allows users to query and retrieve data for any station, parameter, date range, and time interval using HTTP requests. The API returns data in JSON format. The API documentation can be found at .


Special air quality data from CPCB reports and publications




CPCB publishes various reports and publications on various aspects of air pollution in India, such as source apportionment studies, emission inventories, air quality trends and scenarios, health impacts assessments, etc. These reports and publications contain special air quality data that may not be available on the regular platforms. These reports and publications can be accessed and downloaded from CPCB website (). Some examples of such reports and publications are:


  • Source Apportionment of PM2.5 and PM10 of Delhi NCR for Identification of Major Sources (2018)



  • Emission Inventory of Air Pollutants and Trend Analysis for Indian Cities (2018)



  • Air Quality Status and Trends in India (2017)



  • Health Effects of Air Pollution in Delhi (2016)



  • Air Quality Monitoring, Emission Inventory and Source Apportionment Study for Indian Cities (2010-2015)



Why is CPCB air quality data important and useful?




CPCB air quality data is important and useful for various reasons, such as:


CPCB air quality data helps to assess the current and past air pollution levels and trends




CPCB air quality data provides a comprehensive and consistent picture of the ambient air quality in different parts of India over time. It helps to identify the spatial and temporal variations, patterns, and trends of air pollution across the country. It also helps to evaluate the effectiveness of various air pollution control measures and policies implemented by the government and other stakeholders.


CPCB air quality data helps to understand the health impacts and risks of air pollution




CPCB air quality data helps to estimate the exposure and dose of various pollutants to the population and the environment. It helps to assess the health impacts and risks of air pollution, such as respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, premature mortality, etc. It also helps to identify the vulnerable groups and areas that are most affected by air pollution.


CPCB air quality data helps to plan and implement effective air pollution control measures and policies




CPCB air quality data helps to identify the major sources and contributors of air pollution in different regions and sectors. It helps to prioritize the most critical areas and pollutants that need urgent attention and action. It also helps to design and implement effective air pollution control measures and policies, such as emission standards, fuel quality standards, vehicle emission norms, clean energy technologies, public transport systems, etc.


How to interpret and use CPCB air quality data?




CPCB air quality data can be interpreted and used in various ways, depending on the purpose and context. Here are some tips and suggestions on how to do so:


CPCB air quality data is based on the National Air Quality Index (AQI) and its color-coded categories




The National AQI is a simple and easy way to understand the overall air quality at a given location and time. It is calculated based on eight pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, O3, CO, NH3, and Pb. The AQI has six color-coded categories: Good (0-50), Satisfactory (51-100), Moderately Polluted (101-200), Poor (201-300), Very Poor (301-400), and Severe (401-500). Each category has a corresponding health advisory that indicates the potential health effects and precautions for different groups of people.


To interpret the CPCB air quality data based on the AQI, users can follow these steps:


  • Check the AQI value and its color code for the station or city of interest.



  • Compare the AQI value with the national standard (100) or the WHO guideline (25 for PM2.5).



  • Read the health advisory for the AQI category and follow the recommended actions.



  • Check the individual pollutant concentrations and their contribution to the AQI.



  • Identify the main sources of pollution that may be affecting the air quality.



CPCB air quality data can be compared with other national and international standards and guidelines




The National AQI is based on the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) that are prescribed by CPCB under the Air Act. The NAAQS specify the permissible limits of various pollutants in ambient air for different averaging periods (annual, 24-hour, 8-hour, etc.) and for different land use categories (residential, industrial, sensitive, etc.). The NAAQS are meant to protect human health and welfare from adverse effects of air pollution.


However, the NAAQS may not be sufficient or adequate to ensure safe and healthy air quality for all. Therefore, it may be useful to compare the CPCB air quality data with other national and international standards and guidelines that are more stringent or comprehensive. Some examples of such standards and guidelines are:


  • WHO Air Quality Guidelines: These are the global guidelines that provide the recommended levels of various pollutants in ambient air for different averaging periods to protect human health from short-term and long-term exposure. The WHO guidelines are based on the best available scientific evidence and expert consensus. The WHO guidelines are much lower than the NAAQS for most pollutants, especially for PM2.5 and O3.



  • US EPA National Ambient Air Quality Standards: These are the US standards that specify the maximum allowable concentrations of six criteria pollutants (PM, NO2, SO2, O3, CO, Pb) in ambient air for different averaging periods to protect public health and welfare. The US EPA standards are revised periodically based on the latest scientific findings and public comments. The US EPA standards are generally lower than the NAAQS for most pollutants, especially for PM2.5 and O3.



  • EU Ambient Air Quality Standards: These are the EU standards that set the limit values and target values for 12 pollutants (PM, NO2, SO2, O3, CO, Pb, benzene, arsenic, cadmium, nickel, mercury, PAHs) in ambient air for different averaging periods to protect human health and the environment. The EU standards are legally binding for the member states and are enforced by the European Commission. The EU standards are similar or lower than the NAAQS for most pollutants, except for PM10 and SO2.



To compare the CPCB air quality data with other national and international standards and guidelines, users can follow these steps:


  • Check the CPCB air quality data for the station or city of interest.



  • Select the pollutant and the averaging period of interest.



  • Compare the pollutant concentration with the corresponding NAAQS value.



  • Compare the pollutant concentration with the corresponding WHO guideline value or US EPA standard value or EU standard value.



  • Evaluate the level of compliance or exceedance of the pollutant concentration with respect to different standards and guidelines.



CPCB air quality data can be visualized and analyzed using various tools and techniques




CPCB air quality data can be presented and explored in various ways using various tools and techniques, such as:


  • Tables: Tables are useful for displaying numerical data in a structured and organized way. Tables can show the summary statistics, such as mean, median, minimum, maximum, standard deviation, etc., of the pollutant concentrations for different stations, cities, regions, periods, etc. Tables can also show the frequency distribution, such as number or percentage of days or hours when the pollutant concentrations fall within a certain range or category.



  • Charts: Charts are useful for showing graphical data in a visual and intuitive way. Charts can show the trends, patterns, variations, comparisons, relationships, etc., of the pollutant concentrations over time or space. Charts can be of different types, such as line charts, bar charts, pie charts, scatter plots, box plots, etc., depending on the type and purpose of the data.



  • Maps: Maps are useful for showing spatial data in a geographical and contextual way. Maps can show the location and distribution of the monitoring stations and their air quality status or levels. Maps can also show the spatial variation or gradient of the pollutant concentrations across different areas or regions. Maps can be of different types, such as point maps, heatmap maps, contour maps, etc., depending on the type and purpose of the data.



  • Dashboards: Dashboards are useful for showing interactive and dynamic data in a comprehensive and customizable way. Dashboards can combine different types of data, such as tables, charts, maps, etc., in a single interface that allows users to filter, sort, zoom, drill down, etc., the data according to their needs and preferences. Dashboards can also provide alerts, notifications, recommendations, etc., based on the data.



To visualize and analyze the CPCB air quality data using various tools and techniques, users can follow these steps:


  • Download the CPCB air quality data from the website, app, portal, or API.



  • Select the tool or technique of interest, such as Excel, Power BI, Tableau, R, Python, etc.



  • Import or load the data into the tool or technique.



  • Apply the appropriate functions or commands to create the desired table, chart, map, or dashboard.



  • Explore and interpret the data using the features and options of the tool or technique.



Conclusion




Summary of the main points of the article




In this article, we have discussed how and why to use CPCB air quality data. We have explained what CPCB is and what it does in terms of monitoring and regulating air pollution in India. We have described how to access and download CPCB air quality data from various platforms and formats. We have highlighted why CPCB air quality data is important and useful for various purposes. And we have suggested how to interpret and use CPCB air quality data using various tools and techniques.


Call to action for the readers




We hope that this article has helped you to understand and appreciate CPCB air quality data better. We encourage you to use this data for your personal or professional needs and interests. You can also share this data with others who may benefit from it. You can also provide your feedback or suggestions to CPCB on how to improve its data quality and accessibility. And you can also support CPCB's efforts to improve the air quality in India by following its guidelines and recommendations.


FAQs




Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) about CPCB air quality data:



  • Q: How often is CPCB air quality data updated?



  • A: CPCB air quality data is updated at different frequencies depending on the source and platform. The real-time AQI data is updated every 15 minutes on the website and app. The historical NAAQM data is updated monthly or annually on the ENVIS portal. The special air quality data is updated periodically on the reports and publications.



  • Q: How accurate is CPCB air quality data?



  • A: CPCB air quality data is based on standard methods and instruments that are calibrated and validated regularly. However, there may be some errors or uncertainties due to various factors, such as instrument malfunction, human error, data transmission failure, etc. Therefore, CPCB air quality data should be used with caution and cross-checked with other sources if possible.



  • Q: How can I report any issues or problems with CPCB air quality data?



  • A: If you find any issues or problems with CPCB air quality data, such as missing or incorrect values, broken links, outdated information, etc., you can report them to CPCB through its website () or phone (011-22307233).



  • Q: How can I learn more about CPCB air quality data?



  • A: If you want to learn more about CPCB air quality data, you can visit its website () for more updates and news.



  • Q: How can I contribute to improving CPCB air quality data?



  • A: If you want to contribute to improving CPCB air quality data, you can do so in various ways, such as:



  • Providing your feedback or suggestions to CPCB on how to improve its data quality and accessibility.



  • Sharing CPCB air quality data with others who may benefit from it.



  • Supporting CPCB's efforts to improve the air quality in India by following its guidelines and recommendations.



  • Participating in CPCB's programs and initiatives to raise awareness and action on air pollution issues.



44f88ac181


24 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page