AQI & Nationalism : How national air quality Indices are Fooling People.

 Very few people realise that although Air Quality Index is measured by scientific instruments and by using Scientific methods , their classification is neither Scientific Nor Universal. 

And you can thank Nationalist Scientists (Its an oxymoron, but must apt in case) for that. 

 Before Political Animals thrust their dirty paws into that, it was a scientific metric. Measured from 1 to 999 in scale.

Just because, US recalibrated its index to 1 - 500, every other Government decided to have their own AQI system .If every country can have their own stock market index with distinct components, why can't they have "National Air Quality Index"?

Besides what "Old Index" would have shown a severe 750, "New Index" will only show a "Not Good" 350-380 In India or a 8 in UK or a Hazardous 9 in Canada .

 Environment Activists mostly come from Social studies and humanities streams academically, they will not get that.

 Already hearing in Lots of Media channels how India's AQI has improved From 999 to just about 500.

It's not just India, other Countries are using that trick. While China, Canada and UK are using Index range of 1 to 10 /10+ , their gradations and health Interpretations differ. EU is using 1 to 100 scale where they only monitor Greenhouse gases and not hazardous particulate matters. Similarly Australia, SE Asia countries have their own AQI, where even a 300 score can be termed as hazardous.

Even IIT graduates are falling for that.

Well, everyone is comparing Old Index scores with present day score and enjoying NUMERICAL SATISFACTION.  In India, IIT, Kanpur came up with this system in 2014. Where words like Unhealthy and Hazardous are replaced by Poor, Very Poor and Severe . 

Besides India's PM2.5 gradations of Poor (91 - 120), Very Poor ( 121 - 150 ), Severe (Only if above 251) all of which will rank in Extremely hazardous in Most countries like UK, US, Canada and even China .

But "Green-Savvy" Politicians and activists won't understand that. Besides India is having hottest autumn since records began. Air expands in heat and suspended particulate matters are packed less densely now, so AQI will not reflect whether pollutants are less or more.

I know, BJP sold crap meters that looks like a timepiece with a screen which shows the current AQI and its classification in any place. People bought them and carrying them everywhere,  BJP never let's any opportunity of scam go by, but for this I blame the people. 

I blame the people because if you are literate enough to read AQI , why didn't you take the next step and read what constitutes the AQI ? Scammers will always scam you, if you are not alert.

I mean you are buying a gadget that goes upto 500 and taking the satisfaction that it's no longer 999? 500 is the new 999 in AQI, now.