A Combined Index for Measurement of Total Air Pollution: Effects of Changing Air Quality Standards

Abstract

Combined pollution indexes are useful for assessing overall air pollution levels and seem to be, an overdue necessity. Formulators of pollution control policy must be able to trade off one pollutant against another, always being aware of the effect of a change in one pollutant level on overall air quality. An index called “pindex” is proposed in which six pollutants, a synergism, and photochemical effects are combined to yield a measure of total air pollution. Pindex combines the more generally accepted tenets of air pollution technology and, despite definite limitations, could be a useful tool for assessing total air pollution levels.

Within the pindex calculation, there are nine somewhat arbitrary weighting coefficients. Six coefficients are based on ambient air quality standards proposed for California,⁵ while the remainder involve photochemistry and sulfur oxide-particulate synergism. This present paper extends earlier work¹ by specifically examining these coefficients. Implications of changes in certain air quality standards are discussed as they affect pindex results.