This Standard stipulates the designation of functional areas of ambient air quality, standard classification, pollutants, sampling time and concentration limits, sampling and analyzing methods as well as the definition of validity of data statistics.

This Standard is applicable to the evaluation of countrywide ambient air quality.

3.1 Total suspended particles (TSP): The particles that can be suspended in the air with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter ≤ 100 micrometer.

3.2 Breathable particles (PM₁0): The particles that can be suspended in the air with an aerodynamic equivalent diameter ≤ 10 micrometer.

3.3 Nitrogen oxide (as NO₂): The nitrogen oxide existing in the air in the form of nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide.

3.4 Lead (Pb): The lead and its compounds existing in TSP.

3.5 Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P): The benzo[a]pyrene existing in breathable particles.

3.6 Fluoride (as F): Inorganic fluoride existing in gaseous and particulate states.

3.7 Annual average: The arithmetic mean of daily average concentration in any year.

3.8 Quarterly average: The arithmetic mean of daily average concentration in any quarter.

3.9 Monthly average: The arithmetic mean of daily average concentration in any month.

3.10 Daily average: The average concentration on any day.

3.11 Hourly average: The average concentration in any hour.

3.12 Average in plant growth season: The arithmetic mean of monthly average concentration in any plant growth season.

3.13 Ambient air: Outside air which human beings, plants, animals, and buildings are exposed to.

3.14 Normal state: The state at a temperature of 273K and a pressure of 101.325Kpa.

4.1 Grouping of functional area of ambient air quality

Group I area includes natural protection zones, scenic spots and other areas for which special protections are necessary.

Group II area includes the residential quarters designated in town planning, mixed areas of business, communication and living, cultural areas, normal industrial areas and rural areas.

Group III area includes specialized industrial areas.

4.2       Standard classification of ambient air quality

The standard of ambient air quality is classified as three classes.

Class 1 standard is imposed for Group I area.

Class 2 standard is imposed for Group II area.

Class 3 standard is imposed for Group III area.

This Standard stipulates the concentration limits of various pollutants that are not allowed to be exceeded. For the details, refer to the following table:

Note: ? is applicable to urban area; ­ is applicable to pastoral area, agricultural-pastoral area in which priority is given to pastoral, silkworm breeding area; ? is applicable for agricultural area and forest zone.

6.1 Sampling

The requirements of sampling point, sampling environment, sampling attitude and frequency for monitoring the ambient air are executed in accordance with “Technical Specifications of Environment Monitoring” (Section: Atmosphere)

6.2 Analyzing Method

For the analyzing methods for various pollutants, refer to Table 2.

Note: ISO/CD10498, ISO7996, ISO10313 are executed respectively for ?, ­ and ? for the time being. Corresponding national standards will be implemented after their issuance; ¯ is used for daily average and hourly average; ° is used for monthly average and average in plant growth season.

For definition of validity of data statistics, refer to Table 3.

 

8.1 The environemntal protection authorities at various levels are responsible for the supervision and implementation of this Standard.

8.2 This Standard stipulates the hourly, daily, monthly, quarterly and annual averages of  concentration limits, however, the environemntal protection authorities at various levels shall supervise the implementation of this Standard based on different purposes.

8.3  The functional areas of ambient air quality are designated by the environemntal protection authorities of cities above the prefecture-level (including prefecture-level cities), and submitted to the people’s government of the same level for approval and implementation.