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A critical evaluation of air quality index models (1960–2021)

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Abstract

The formulation of an adequate and practical Atmospheric Air Quality Management Plan at different spatial scales at local (micro), city (medium), national (macro)), and temporal (short and long term) is an indispensable solution to prevent the public from air pollution health risk. The air quality monitoring system provides regulatory agencies a comprehensive data of current air contaminants in a particular location. Then, air monitoring data of pollutants is processed into a dimensionless unit called the “Air Quality Index” (AQI); it serves as an information medium for the people to know the air quality health of their location and takes preventative steps accordingly (public participation). Thus, the AQI is a beneficial tool for the public, stakeholders, and regulators to understand the current state of air quality. AQI across the globe considers the number of pollutants (most of the developed countries and some developing countries considers PM2.5 to measure the overall status of air quality being monitored), averaging time for which pollutants are measured, calculation method to compute air quality indices for each pollutant, calculation mode to aggregate the overall index, scale of an index, categories, colour coding scheme, and related descriptive terms of the pollutants. This article presents rationalized and extensive reviews of various Air Quality Index (AQI) models utilized worldwide from 1960 to 2021, comparing them based on several parameters such as types and number of pollutants (criteria or hazardous air pollutants), averaging time (long-term or short-term), calculation methods (linear or nonlinear), calculation modes [single-pollutant (maximum value) or multi-pollutants (combined effect)]. By analysing the strengths and flaws of all the AQI models developed so far, it is recommended to develop a more reliable, extensible, and comparable AQI model to be employed as an executive tool for designing strategic pollution abatement programs to preserve public health.

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Data availability

This is a review paper, and it does not contain any scientific data. Any question/ inquires pertaining to the type of data or the attributes of datasets, can be directed to the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.

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NA.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to CSIR-CSIO Chandigarh for providing the necessary infrastructure and support to carry out our work. The authors are grateful to all the anonymous reviewers and the editors whose valuable feedback helped in enhancing the quality of this paper.

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  1. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, India, 201002

    Priti K & Prashant Kumar

  2. CSIR-Central Scientific Instruments Organisation, Technology Block, Sector 30-C, Chandigarh, India, 160030

    Priti K & Prashant Kumar

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K, P., Kumar, P. A critical evaluation of air quality index models (1960–2021). Environ Monit Assess 194, 324 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-022-09896-8

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