Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated a first-of-its-kind integrated air pollution facility, the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory ot AATAL, at IITM's Delhi branch. Established under Mission Mausam, the advanced laboratory is designed to identify specific pollution sources, analyze aerosol toxicity, and provide evidence-based data for effective air quality management in the capital region.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated a first-of-its-kind integrated air pollution facility, the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory ot AATAL, at IITM's Delhi branch. Established under Mission Mausam, the advanced laboratory is designed to identify specific pollution sources, analyze aerosol toxicity, and provide evidence-based data for effective air quality management in the capital region.

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated a first-of-its-kind integrated air pollution facility, the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory ot AATAL, at IITM's Delhi branch. Established under Mission Mausam, the advanced laboratory is designed to identify specific pollution sources, analyze aerosol toxicity, and provide evidence-based data for effective air quality management in the capital region.

It is the world’s first-of-its-kind integrated air pollution facility in the world, said Union Minister of State Dr Jitendra Singh as he inaugurated the Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) at the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM)’s Delhi branch on Saturday.

Dr T. Srinivasa Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Dr A. Suryachandra Rao, Director, IITM and Dr Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, DGM of  India Meteorological Department, joined the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences, and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Atomic Energy and Department of Space, during the inaugural function of the ₹80 crore facility. 

Established under 'Mission Mausam', the "laboratory brings together advanced atmospheric measurement instruments, detailed chemical analysis, pollution-source identification and decision-support capabilities within an integrated framework," explained the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

“Earlier, the discussion would largely revolve around whether the pollution level was 100 or 200. This facility will help us understand the composition of pollution as well as the contribution of different sources. This is important for addressing the concerns of the people of Delhi and ensuring that action is based on scientific evidence,” Singh said.

AATAL is said to enable scientists to distinguish between different sources of air pollution, "including vehicular emissions, industrial activity, biomass and crop-residue burning, construction and road dust, and pollutants transported from surrounding regions". 

"By estimating the relative contribution of these sources, the facility will help authorities understand which activities are driving poor air quality at a particular time and where interventions may be most effective," the ministry stated.

Singh also elaborated on the live tracking abilities of the lab, stating that, at the time, 25 per cent of Delhi's air pollution was caused by transport.

"The laboratory is integrated with IITM’s AIRWISE, Air Quality Warning and Integrated Decision Support System for Emissions, which combines air-quality forecasts, observations and source-apportionment information to support pollution management," the ministry stated.

The facility will provide measurement-based evidence to identify the sources of pollution to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and other implementing agencies, helping them focus on key areas and locations and plan accordingly. The ministry expects AATAL, along with AIRWISE forecasts, to help plan preventive measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle pollution in the capital region.

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