What is in news : The World Health Organisation (WHO), in its first-ever update since 2005, has tightened global air pollution standards in recognition of the emerging science in the past decade that the impact of air pollution on health is much more serious than earlier envisaged.

What are the changes :

What is National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)

• Standards for the quality of air by CPCB under Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act
• Current NAAQS were notified by CPCB in the year 2009.
• Pollutants covered under NAAQS are Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Particulate Matter (PM 10, PM 2.5), Ozone (O3), Lead (Pb), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Ammonia (NH3), Benzene (C6H6), Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP), Arsenic(As), Nickel (Ni).