Delhi-NCR Gets Advanced Lab to Analyse Air Pollution Sources

The government has opened a new laboratory in Delhi-NCR that can analyse air pollution in detail and trace it to its sources. The facility was inaugurated on Saturday by Union Minister of State for Science and Technology (Independent Charge) Dr. Jitendra Singh.

The lab, named the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATL), is designed to find the real sources behind air pollution. It is the first facility of its kind for the region.

The launch event was organised at the Delhi branch of IITM. Officials present included Dr. T. Srinivas Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr. A. Suryachandra Rao, Director of IITM, and Dr. Mohapatra, Director General of IMD.

The laboratory will support scientists in separating pollution linked to vehicle emissions, industrial activity, biomass and crop residue burning, construction, and road dust. It will also help them distinguish these sources from pollutants carried from neighbouring areas.

By measuring the relative share of each source, the facility aims to show officials which activities are responsible for poor air quality at any given moment. This information can guide authorities to the interventions most likely to succeed.

The lab uses sophisticated equipment to study the chemical structure of atmospheric gases and aerosols. Its scope includes fine particulate matter (PM2.5), metals, toxic elements, and other components.

The facility is part of 'Mission Mausam', announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The mission seeks to build a stronger scientific understanding of atmospheric pollution and to provide concrete evidence for managing air quality in Delhi-NCR.

Dr. Singh said the region was chosen because of widespread public concern over pollution. He stressed that the facility will not limit itself to reporting pollution levels. It will also identify the composition and sources of pollutants, their relative contributions, and their potential health impacts. Real-time monitoring and advance forecasting will allow authorities to act on time.

He pointed out that India has achieved significant advances in air quality forecasting and analysis over the last 10 to 12 years. The new facility, he said, is a major step forward because it will reveal how much pollution is in the atmosphere, what it is made of, and where it comes from.