MPCB: Mumbai's air quality moderate till Apr this year

After a World Health Organisation report ranked Mumbai as the fourth most polluted megacity in the world, an Air Quality Index (AQI) data released by the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) shows that between January to April, the city's air quality was in 'moderate' category.

The data takes into account AQI of 18 cities across the state. The AQI is calculated by using different air pollutant concentrations over a specified time period using a model. AQI between 101 to 200 is considered to be moderate and is not thretening to the public, though it's known to pose breathing discomfort to people with lung and heart diseases, children and older adults.

The data shows that six cities including Mumbai were in moderate category through the four months till April. Mumbai's average index was 154 in January), 164 in February), 127 in March and 111 in April.

The MPCB announced that it has commissioned 10 new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations across Mumbai, to help people keep a tab on the air qualitybased on 12 parameters including lead.