MeitY launches Technology for Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0).

• Under the ‘National programme on Electronics and ICT applications in Agriculture and Environment (AgriEnIcs)’–  the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), in collaboration with TeXMIN, ISM, Dhanbad has developed an outdoor air quality monitoring station to monitor environmental pollutants.
• It will monitor parameters like PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10.0, SO2, NO2, CO, O2, ambient temperature, relative humidity, etc.,for continuous air quality analysis of the environment.
• The new Air Quality Monitoring System (AI-AQMS v1.0) will soon be available for a wider market as the new technology is already transferred to JM EnviroLab for further commercialization and deployment in different mining and cement industries.
• (MeitY) also launched the technology for biosensing systems for the detection of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals in aquatic ecosystems for qualitative and quantitative analysis of EDC content in water bodies.

About EDC:

• Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are substances in the environment (natural– air, soil, or water) or manufactured (man-made) products that interfere with the normal function of the body’s endocrine system.

The most common EDCs are-

• Bisphenol A (BPA)– used to make certain plastics and epoxy resins
• Dioxins– a byproduct in herbicide production and paper bleaching
• Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS)– used in a non-stick pan, paper and textile coatings
• Phthalates– used to make plastics more flexible
• Phytoestrogens– found in plants that have hormone-like activity, such as tofu or soy milk
• Triclosan– found in some anti-microbial and personal care products
• Endosulfan – an organochlorine insecticide that caused health hazards in the state of Kerala.