What Is Ambient Air?

Ambient air quality is a standard formulated to implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution", protect and improve the living environment, the ecological environment, and protect human health. The standard specifies the classification, standard grading, pollutant items, average time and concentration limits, monitoring methods, effectiveness regulations of data statistics, implementation and supervision, etc. The pollutant concentrations in this standard are all mass concentrations. This standard was first published in 1982. The first revision in 1996, the second revision in 2000, and the third revision. This standard will be revised in a timely manner in accordance with national economic and social development status and environmental protection requirements. The formulation units are the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences and the China Environmental Monitoring Station. ^[1]

Ambient air quality is a standard formulated to implement the "Environmental Protection Law of the People's Republic of China" and the "Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Atmospheric Pollution", protect and improve the living environment, the ecological environment, and protect human health. The standard specifies the classification, standard grading, pollutant items, average time and concentration limits, monitoring methods, effectiveness regulations of data statistics, implementation and supervision, etc. The pollutant concentrations in this standard are all mass concentrations. This standard was first published in 1982. The first revision in 1996, the second revision in 2000, and the third revision. This standard will be revised in a timely manner in accordance with national economic and social development status and environmental protection requirements. The formulation units are the Chinese Academy of Environmental Sciences and the China Environmental Monitoring Station. ^[1]

To implement "

This standard specifies the classification of ambient air function zones, standard classification, pollutant items, average time and concentration limits, monitoring methods, data statistics effectiveness regulations, and implementation and supervision. The people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the Central Government may formulate local ambient air quality standards for pollutant items not specified in this standard.

The pollutant concentrations in this standard are

-Adjusted the classification of ambient air function zones, and merged the third zone into the second zone;

Added the concentration limit of particulate matter (particle size less than or equal to 2.5 m) and the 8-hour average concentration limit of ozone;

Adjusted the concentration limits of particulate matter (particle size 10 m or less), nitrogen dioxide, lead, benzo [a] pyrene, etc .;

Adjusted the effectiveness of data statistics.

Since the date of implementation of this standard, the "Ambient Air Quality Standard" (GB 3095-1996), the "Ambient Air Quality Standard" (GB 3095-1996) Amendment Sheet (Huanfa [2000] No. 1) and "Protection of Crops" "Maximum Allowable Concentration of Air Pollutants" (GB 9137-88) is abolished.

On July 31, 2018, Li Ganjie, Minister of the Eco-Environment, presided over a standing meeting of the Ministry of Eco-Environment to review and adopt in principle the Amendment Form of the Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB3095-2012). ^[2]

On October 11, 2012, Wu Xiaoqing, deputy minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, said that after the new standards were promulgated, the Ministry of Environmental Protection immediately issued the "Notice on the Implementation of the" Ambient Air Quality Standards "and the" Implementation Plan for the First Stage Monitoring of the New Air Quality Standards " "And a series of documents, clearly set out the" three steps "goal of the implementation of the new standard, clarified the scope, content and requirements of the first phase of monitoring, and fully implemented the implementation of the new standard monitoring. Comprehensively optimized the new standard monitoring network, issued the "Opinions on Strengthening the Ability Construction of Ambient Air Quality Monitoring", and deployed and required the building of automatic monitoring capacity for urban ambient air and the capacity building of regional ambient air monitoring. In conjunction with the Ministry of Finance, special funds of 519 million yuan have been allocated to the localities, and key areas that support the first stage of monitoring, as well as municipalities directly under the Central Government, provincial capitals, and cities with separate plans, will form the monitoring capacity for newly added air quality indicators as soon as possible. Established and improved a new standard monitoring technology system, and carried out research and formulation of new "Air Quality Evaluation Methods" and new index monitoring methods, technical specifications, and quality control specifications.

according to"

Zhou Shengxian, Minister of the Ministry of Environmental Protection of China, hosted an executive meeting of the Ministry of Environmental Protection on December 30, 2011 to review and adopt the Ambient Air Quality Standards in principle. The newly revised standard adjusted pollutant items and limits, added PM2.5 average concentration limits and ozone 8-hour average concentration limits, and tightened the concentration limits of pollutants such as PM10 and nitrogen dioxide. The meeting held that the current Ambient Air Quality Standards have played an active role in strengthening air pollution prevention and protecting public health. However, with the rapid development of China's economy, the characteristics of ambient air pollution have changed from soot to composite, regional atmospheric fine particulate matter and ozone pollution have continued to increase, and some cities often have long-term haze weather. Serious threats. At the same time, the evaluation results released are different from the subjective feelings of the people. Therefore, it is necessary to revise the Ambient Air Quality Standard.

Adjust content

After discussions, the meeting agreed in principle to the revised Ambient Air Quality Standard. Compared with the current standard, the newly revised draft standard has been adjusted as follows:

The first is to adjust the classification scheme of ambient air function zones , and merge the three types of zones (specific industrial zones) into the second type of zones (residential areas identified in urban planning, mixed commercial and residential areas, cultural areas, general industrial areas, and rural areas). ;

The second is to adjust the pollutant items and limits , increase the PM2.5 average concentration limit and ozone 8-hour average concentration limit, and tighten the PM10, nitrogen dioxide, lead, and benzo [a] pyrene and other pollutants. Concentration limit

The third is to tighten the regulations on the effectiveness of monitoring data statistics and increase the effective data requirements from 50% -75% to 75% -90%;

Fourthly, the analytical method standards for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and particulate matter were updated, and automatic monitoring and analysis methods were added;

The fifth is to clarify the implementation time of the standard . The new standards are required to be implemented in stages and in batches.

State Council Premier Wen Jiabao presided over the State Council executive meeting on February 29, 2012 ^[3]

Ambient air quality functional area classification

Ambient air functions are divided into two categories:

The first-class areas are nature reserves, scenic spots and other areas that require special protection;

The second-class areas are residential areas, mixed commercial and residential areas, cultural areas, industrial areas and rural areas.

Ambient Air Quality Standard Classification

Ambient air quality standards are divided into two levels: ^[5]

The Ambient Air Quality Standard (GB3095-2012) (hereinafter referred to as the new standard) stipulates that it will be implemented nationwide from January 1, 2016. The Ministry of Environmental Protection proposed new standards to be implemented in phases: in 2012, Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and other key regions, as well as municipalities and provincial capitals; in 2013, 113 key environmental protection cities and national environmental protection model cities; in 2015, Cities above Grade 1; On January 1, 2016, new standards were implemented nationwide. According to the requirements of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, Beijing, as one of the first batch of implementation cities, has made various preparations. It will monitor and evaluate air quality according to new standards from January 1, 2013, while providing air quality information services to the public. . ^[6]

Total Suspended Particicular (TSP): Refers to particles that can be suspended in air with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter of 100 microns.

Compared with the old standard, the changes in the new standard are mainly in two aspects: one is to increase the two pollutant control standards for ozone (O ₃ ) and fine particulate matter (PM _2.5 ); the second is to tighten the inhalable particulate matter (PM ₁₀ ) , Nitrogen dioxide (NO ₂ ) and other pollutants limit requirements. Correspondingly, the requirements for the operation of the automatic monitoring system have also increased. ^[6]