The Air Quality Index (AQI) in India uses a health breakpoint approach for PM2.5. An AQI value of 208 recorded at a monitoring station falls into which category, and what health advisory does it carry?

• A Very Poor; causing respiratory illness on prolonged exposure ✓
• B Severe; causing respiratory effects even on healthy people
• C Poor; causing breathing discomfort to people with lung or heart disease
• D Moderate; causing breathing discomfort to people with asthma

Explanation

The National AQI scale classifies 201 to 300 as Very Poor, with the health advisory that it may cause respiratory illness on prolonged exposure. The Severe category spans 301 to 400 and causes respiratory effects even on healthy individuals. Poor is 101 to 200 and affects sensitive groups. Moderate is 51 to 100. A reading of 208 therefore sits squarely in the Very Poor band.

Reference: CPCB National Air Quality Index Technical Document / Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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