Which of the following are criteria air pollutants under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in India?
A. Lead
B. Mercury
C. Carbon dioxide
D. Ozone
E. Sulphur dioxide
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A, D and E only
The National Ambient Air Quality Standards notified by the CPCB in 2009 prescribe limits for twelve pollutants, among them lead (Pb), ozone (O3) and sulphur dioxide (SO2), along with PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, NH3, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, arsenic and nickel.
Mercury is not among the notified criteria pollutants, and carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas regulated as a climate forcer rather than as an ambient air quality criterion.