Question:
The Air Quality Index is measured using the Criteria Pollutants. Which one of the following is not a Criteria Pollutant?
The Air Quality Index is measured using the Criteria Pollutants. Which one of the following is not a Criteria Pollutant?
Show Hint
Be careful to distinguish between direct air pollutants and greenhouse gases. The AQI measures pollutants that cause immediate health effects like asthma (Ozone, SO\(_2\), PM). Carbon Dioxide (CO\(_2\)) is the primary driver of global warming but is not an AQI component. However, Carbon {Monoxide} (CO) \textbf{is} a criteria pollutant.
Updated On: Sep 20, 2025
- Sulfur Dioxide
- Lead
- Carbon dioxide
- Ozone
Hide Solution
Verified By Collegedunia
The Correct Option is C
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
"Criteria air pollutants" is a term used (originally by the US Environmental Protection Agency, but the concept is applied globally) for a group of six common air pollutants that are widespread and known to be harmful to public health and the environment. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is primarily based on the concentrations of these pollutants.
Step 2: Identifying the Criteria Pollutants:
The six criteria air pollutants are:
Ground-level Ozone (O\(_3\))
Particulate Matter (PM\(_{2.5}\) and PM\(_{10}\))
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO\(_2\))
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO\(_2\))
Lead (Pb)
Step 3: Analyzing the Options:
- (A) Sulfur Dioxide (SO\(_2\)): This is a criteria pollutant.
- (B) Lead (Pb): This is a criteria pollutant.
- (C) Carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)): This is a major greenhouse gas responsible for climate change, but it is not classified as a criteria air pollutant because it is not directly toxic to humans at typical ambient concentrations.
- (D) Ozone (O\(_3\)): Ground-level ozone is a criteria pollutant.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)) is not on the list of criteria pollutants used for calculating the AQI. Therefore, option (C) is the correct answer.
"Criteria air pollutants" is a term used (originally by the US Environmental Protection Agency, but the concept is applied globally) for a group of six common air pollutants that are widespread and known to be harmful to public health and the environment. The Air Quality Index (AQI) is primarily based on the concentrations of these pollutants.
Step 2: Identifying the Criteria Pollutants:
The six criteria air pollutants are:
Ground-level Ozone (O\(_3\))
Particulate Matter (PM\(_{2.5}\) and PM\(_{10}\))
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Sulfur Dioxide (SO\(_2\))
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO\(_2\))
Lead (Pb)
Step 3: Analyzing the Options:
- (A) Sulfur Dioxide (SO\(_2\)): This is a criteria pollutant.
- (B) Lead (Pb): This is a criteria pollutant.
- (C) Carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)): This is a major greenhouse gas responsible for climate change, but it is not classified as a criteria air pollutant because it is not directly toxic to humans at typical ambient concentrations.
- (D) Ozone (O\(_3\)): Ground-level ozone is a criteria pollutant.
Step 4: Final Answer:
Carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)) is not on the list of criteria pollutants used for calculating the AQI. Therefore, option (C) is the correct answer.
Was this answer helpful?
0
0
Top Questions on Environmental Science
- Which of the following statements are correct with reference to Photochemical Smog?
A. It is an oxidizing smog.
B. It is formed by the reaction between NO\(_2\) and hydrocarbons.
C. It is a reducing smog.
D. It is formed in the presence of UV-radiation.
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:- CUET (PG) - 2025
- Zoology
- Environmental Science
- Match LIST-I with LIST-II
\begin{tabularx}{0.9\textwidth}{|l|X|l|X|} \hline \multicolumn{2}{|c|}{LIST-I} & \multicolumn{2}{c|}{LIST-II}
\multicolumn{2}{|c|}{ACT} & \multicolumn{2}{c|}{Year of Enactment}
\hline A. & Environmental Pollution Act & I. & 1981
B. & The Air (Prevention and Control of pollution) Act & II. & 1986
C. & The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act & III. & 1972
D. & The Wildlife Protection and Conservation Act & IV. & 1974
\hline \end{tabularx}
Choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:- CUET (PG) - 2025
- Zoology
- Environmental Science
- In context of 'the F diagram', identify the mode through which the diseases from faecal matter CANNOT spread.
- CUET (PG) - 2025
- Home Science
- Environmental Science
- Which of the following is a cause of soil pollution?
- Bihar Board XII - 2025
- Home Science
- Environmental Science
- Which of the following diseases is not caused by air pollution?
- Bihar Board XII - 2025
- Home Science
- Environmental Science
View More Questions
Questions Asked in CUET PG exam
- Match List-I with List-II \[\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Categories of Time Series Patterns} & \textbf{Their meaning} \\ \hline \text{(A) Seasonal Variation} & \text{(I) movement in an economic variable that is periodic.} \\ \hline \text{(B) Random Fluctuation} & \text{(II) steady movement in an economic variable over time.} \\ \hline \text{(C) Business Cycles} & \text{(III) movement in an economic variable that depends on the time of the year.} \\ \hline \text{(D) Trends} & \text{(IV) movement in an economic variable that are due to unpredictable factors.} \\ \hline \end{array}\] Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- CUET (PG) - 2025
- Statistical Methods in Economics
- Match List-I with List-II \[\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Name of State} & \textbf{Dependency Ratio for 2023-24} \\ \hline \text{(A) Andhra Pradesh} & \text{(I) 66.3} \\ \hline \text{(B) Bihar} & \text{(II) 52.2} \\ \hline \text{(C) Kerala} & \text{(III) 41.4} \\ \hline \text{(D) Uttar Pradesh} & \text{(IV) 50.6} \\ \hline \end{array}\] Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- CUET (PG) - 2025
- Demography and equity in planning
- Match List-I with List-II \[\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Measures of Money Supply} & \textbf{Components} \\ \hline \text{(A) M3} & \text{(I) Currency held by the public (C) + net demand deposits of banks (DD) + other deposits of the RBI (OD)} \\ \hline \text{(B) M2} & \text{(II) C + DD + OD + net time deposits of banks} \\ \hline \text{(C) M1} & \text{(III) C + DD + OD + saving deposits with post office saving banks} \\ \hline \text{(D) M4} & \text{(IV) C + DD + OD + net time deposits of banks + total deposits with post office savings organization (excluding National Saving Certificates)} \\ \hline \end{array}\] Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- CUET (PG) - 2025
- Money and Banking
- Match List-I with List-II \[\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Types of Deficit} & \textbf{Level as \% of GDP for FY2021} \\ \hline \text{(A) Revenue Deficit} & \text{(I) 1.2} \\ \hline \text{(B) Fiscal Deficit} & \text{(II) 5.7} \\ \hline \text{(C) Primary Deficit} & \text{(III) 9.2} \\ \hline \text{(D) Current Account Deficit} & \text{(IV) 7.3} \\ \hline \end{array}\] Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
- Match List-I with List-II \[\begin{array}{|c|c|} \hline \textbf{Concepts} & \textbf{Formula} \\ \hline \text{(A) Weighted Mean} & \text{(I) \(\frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n} w_i x_i}{\sum_{i=1}^{n} w_i}\)} \\ \hline \text{(B) Grand Mean of Combined Data} & \text{(II) \(\frac{\sum_{i=1}^{n} x_i}{n}\)} \\ \hline \text{(C) Harmonic Mean} & \text{(III) \(\frac{n}{\sum_{i=1}^{n} \frac{1}{x_i}}\)} \\ \hline \text{(D) Geometric Mean} & \text{(IV) \(\left( \prod_{i=1}^{n} x_i \right)^{1/n}\)} \\ \hline \end{array}\] Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
View More Questions