Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL)

About Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL)

• Integrated Atmospheric Chemistry and Aerosol Toxicity Analysis Laboratory (AATAL) is an integrated facility that combines advanced atmospheric measurements, chemical analysis, pollution-source identification and decision-support capabilities.
  • It is the World’s First-of-its-Kind Facility. 
  • It 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.
• The initiative promotes coordination among scientific institutions, environmental authorities, pollution-control agencies and disaster-management stakeholders.
• Location: The laboratory is established at IITM’s Delhi Branch to address the serious concern of air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
• Established Under: The laboratory has been established under Mission Mausam.
• Functions:
  • Identification of Pollution Sources: It helps identify the major sources of air pollution, including Vehicular emissions, Industrial activities, Biomass and crop-residue burning, Construction and road dust and pollutants transported from surrounding regions,
  • Real-Time Source Apportionment: It estimates the relative contribution of different pollution sources to the overall pollution level, helping authorities identify the major causes of poor air quality at a particular time.
  • Advanced Chemical Analysis: The laboratory analyses atmospheric gases and aerosols, including PM2.5, metals, toxic elements and other pollutants.
  • Health Implications: It helps scientists understand the composition and potential toxicity of pollutants, supporting the assessment of their possible effects on public health.
  • Support for Government Agencies: The facility will provide scientific evidence to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and other implementing agencies to identify major pollution sources and plan targeted interventions.
  • Support for GRAP: Its findings, combined with AIRWISE forecasts, can strengthen decisions regarding preventive measures and responses under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).