Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board தமிழ்நாடு மாசு கட்டுப்பாடு வாரியம்

Air Quality Monitoring

With the increased industrial and commercial activities in the vicinity of major cities, the quality of the ambient air is being affected by emissions from the industries and from the ever increasing vehicular population. As per the provision of Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, the entire state of Tamil Nadu has been declared as an air pollution control area.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Programme

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board is operating eight ambient air quality monitoring stations in Chennai, Three ambient air quality monitoring stations in Thoothukudi, Three ambient air quality monitoring stations in Coimbatore ,One ambient air quality monitoring stations in Salem, Three ambient air quality monitoring stations in Madurai, Five ambient air quality monitoring stations in Trichy, Three ambient air quality monitoring stations in Cuddalore and Two ambient air quality monitoring stations in Mettur under National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) funded by Central Pollution Control Board.

All the stations are functioning on 24 hours basis, twice a week. The samples collected from NAMP stations are analysed for the Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) (RSPM is particulate matter less than 10 microns) and gaseous pollutants such as Sulphur di oxide (SO2) and Nitrogen di Oxides (NO2).

The National Ambient Air Quality Standards prescribed is given below:

Area Annual average concentrations of pollutants in µg/m3
SO2 NO2 RSPM
Industrial Residential, Rural & other areas 50 40 60

All the monitoring stations under NAMP, functions on a 24 hour basis, twice a week. The samples collected from NAMP stations are analysed for the RSPM and gaseous pollutants sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations

S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 Kathivakkam industrial area
2 Manali industrial area
3 Thiruvottiyur industrial area
3 Kilpauk commercial (traffic inter-section)
5 Thiyagaraya Nagar commercial (traffic inter-section)
6 Nungambakkam commercial (traffic inter-section)
7 Anna Nagar residential area
8 Adyar residential area
S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 Raja Agencies Industrial zone
2 SIPCOT Industrial zone
3 A.V.M. Building Residential zone
S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 District Collector's Office Commercial zone
2 Ponniyaraja puram Residential zone
3 SIDCO Building Industrial zone
S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 Sowdeswari College Commercial zone
S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 Hotel Tamil Nadu Residential zone
2 Pichai pillai charade Industrial zone
3 Birla Guest House Commercial Zone
S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 Thennur Residential zone
2 Main Guard Gate ITraffic intersection
3 Bishop Heber College Sensitive zone
4 Golden rock Residential zone
5 Central bus stand Traffic intersection
S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 Echankadu Village Residential zone
2 DEE Office Commercial zone
3 SIPCOT Industrial zone
S.No Station Location Land Use Zone / Area
1 Raman Nagar Residential zone
2 SIDCO Industrial zone