Nagaland Food Security

Nagaland Food Security

Nagaland, was born on 1st December 1963 and among the farthest lying state in northeast. The state is split into seven districts: Kohima, Phek, Mokokchung, Wokha, Zunheloto, Twensang and Mon. It is a mostly mountainous state with most area covered by forest. Agriculture is that the most essential economic activity in Nagaland. Principal crops embody rice, corn, millets, pulses, tobacco, oilseeds, sugarcane, potatoes and fibres. Alternative economy boosters are forestry, cottage industries, Insurance, real estate and tourism.Nagaland Food Security

The state is found between the 93°20′ E and 95°15′ E Longitudes and 25°6′ and 27°4′ N Latitudes. The entire space lined by the state is 16,579 sq. kilometer. Nagaland was declared the sixteenth state of the country of India on 1 December 1963. Before this, Nagaland accustomed could be a union territory. The other attention-grabbing knowledge concerning Nagaland is that it homes as many as sixteen entirely completely different ethnic groups. These groups of people have their own separate cultural identities that embrace customs, dresses and languages. Nearly 90% of the population of Nagaland is devout Christians. The state put together options a considerable Hindu people. Kohima, the capital town of the state, options a variety of sites that ought to be visited by the tourists as a result of it will facilitate them in getting an insight of the rich history place. The name ‘Kohima’ has been derived from the name of a plant referred to as ‘Kew Hi’ that thrives inside the mountainous region. Kohima could be a fascinating place, endowed many natural beauty.

Nagaland has created tremendous progress throughout the last forty seven years of its Statehood. Our ability level, these days standing on top of 70th, is on top of the Indian national average. Our growth in agriculture sector, significantly inside the previous couple of years, has even shocked United States. A quick examine the gross domestic product of the State show that the State’s economy has been registered a healthy growth of relating to 15 August 1945. Such tremendous growth in agriculture sector desires corresponding entrepreneurial intervention to want advantage of the potentials, and switch them into economic opportunities.

Meaning of Food security

It is an act to produce for food and organic process security in human life cycle approach , by guaranteeing access to adequate amount of quality food at reasonable costs to individuals to measure a life with dignity and for matters connected with that or incidental to it.

The ‘National Food Security Act, 2013’ was introduced by the govt. to produce quality and nutrient food to the folk, poor and pregnant ladies. the most aim of this Act is – to produce food and organic process security in human life cycle approach, by guaranteeing access to essential and adequate amount of quality food at reasonable costs to folks to measure a life with dignity and for matters connected with that or incidental to it.

The connected provisions and mechanism for providing food and organic process security to common men of this country square measure arranged down within the Act, that square measure as follows:

  • Fair value search
  • Food grains
  • Food Security
  • Rural space
  • Targeted Public Distribution System

Three years after adoption of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013, the state of Nagaland is finally set to implement the Act once abundant talks with the Centre on the financial facet.

 

The Act is enforced in Dimapur and Kohima districts with result from July 1, 2016 and by August next, the NFSA can cover the remaining nine districts. The Nagaland regime can begin execution the NFSA coverage phase-wise from June 1 beginning with Kohima and Dimapur districts. NFSA 2013 was a landmark event within the State’s history. delay in implementation of the Food Security Act in Nagaland was owing to unfavourable funding pattern and varied supplying problems like lack of infrastructure, lack of godowns in most districts of the State, lack of power backup, conversion method and constitution of State Food Commission, vigilance committees, and grievances redress mechanism at the district level.

Under the Act, beneficiaries of Priority Household (PHH) would be provided five metric weight units of backed food grains per head at Rs three per metric weight unit for rice and Rs 2 for wheat within the ratio of 4:1. NFSA 2013 would additionally cover 78.83 per cent of the agricultural people and 61.98 per cent of the urban people within the State.

Department, from high to bottom, was totally mobilized to realize the target of providing extremely backed food grains to the beneficiaries. Informing that each on top of poverty line (APL) and Below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries are amalgamated beneath the name of Priority home as per the Act, the department had 2,37,434 households with a rise of 44,464 households with feminine members as head of family within the PHH card covering 11,93,922 individual beneficiaries. alongside 2,12,034 Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) beneficiaries, the department would cover 14,05,956 beneficiaries.

Three years once adoption of the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in 2013, the state of Nagaland is finally set to implement the Act once abundant talks with the Centre on the monetary facet.

The Act are enforced in Dimapur and Kohima districts with result from 1st  of July, 2016 and by August next, the NFSA can cover the remaining nine districts.

In pursuance of National Food Security Act 2013, the Govt. Of Nagaland has approved for the implementation of the NFSA,2013 within the state. The eligible priority households shall be entitled to receive 5(five) kgs of Foodgrains per person per month either @Rs.3/- per kilogram of rice or Rs.2/- per kilogram of wheat. The implementation shall begin solely once completion of identification of eligible households within the state.

There will be no additional ABL/BPL beneficiaries beneath NFSA solely Priority households. The AAY (Antyodaya Anna Yojana) beneficiaries can still receive their monthly allocation as per the theme. The District Administration, native bodies and village Councils square measure requested to help the Department of F&CS to spot eligible priority beneficiaries. Any false declarations by candidates are mechanically rejected and no additional appeal is thought of.

The Criteria For Identification Of Priority Households Under The National Food Security Act, 2013 Are As Under:-

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Households having an annual family income of Rs. 1.5 lakh or less and falling underneath the subsequent class are considered for inclusion beneath priority households.
  • Vulnerable and marginalised section of the individuals infected with HIV+ and punctually registered by Nagaland State Aids control Society (NSACS).
  • Households with a disable person as head of the households (as outlined in persons with Disabilities Act ‘1995) subjected to submission of prescribed certified by a competent medical Authority.
  • Single women (including widows, unmarried, divorced and deserted women).
  • Homeless and indigent households.
  • Occupationally vulnerable teams like Casual Domestic staff, Unskilled staff, Casual Labourers, rickshaw and Cart-pullers, Marginal Farmers, Vegetables Vendors, Rag-pickers etc. also will be enclosed underneath Priority Households.
  • He/She ought to be a bonafide subject of India and apermanent resident of Nagaland.
  • Salaried workers (Public/Private Sectors) falling below the financial gain bar as mentioned on top of.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any member of households possessing a four wheeler.
  • Households receiving Ration/Food grant underneath the other
  • Any member of the house who is a worker of
  • Central/State Govt. With an annual income of over Rs.1.5 lakh

02.02.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

NORTH-EASTERN STATES

  • Budget brings hope to bamboo-rich northeast

 

  • Bamboo is essentially a type of grass, but its classification as a tree for 90 years prevented the northeast, which grows 67% of India’s bamboo, from exploiting it commercially unlike China, the only country with richer bamboo genetic resources.

 

  • Now Budget 2018 has ignited farm hope for this tree-turned-grass which once fuelled insurgency in the northeastern states. The allocation of ₹1,290 crore for a restructured National Bamboo Mission (NBM) has raised hopes for a range of bamboo-based industries – from food professing to construction.

 

  • Bamboo is a wonder, multi-utility grass that more than 300 ethnic groups in the northeast have traditionally been using in every stages of life, from birth to death, besides it being a delicacy. Bamboo’s commercial journey began when it was struck off the list of trees by amending the Indian Forest Act last year.

 

  • The Budget provision is one of the best initiatives to promote holistic development of bamboo. But the restructured NBM needs to be more focussed on value-chain management and value-addition of bamboo at community level which will bring more income to the bamboo farmers and bamboo processors.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

·        India Slips to 42nd Place On EIU Democracy Index, Norway Tops

 

  • India slipped to 42nd place on an annual Global Democracy Index according to the data compiled by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). India has moved down from 32nd place last year.
  • The top 5 Countries in the list are

    Norway,

    Iceland,

    Sweden,

    New Zealand and

    Denmark

 

  • The index ranks 165 independent states and two territories on the basis of five categories: electoral process and pluralism, civil liberties, the functioning of government, political participation and political culture.

 

  • The list has been divided into four broad categories- full democracy, flawed democracy, the hybrid regime and authoritarian regime.

 

  • North Korea is ranked the lowest at 167th, while Syria is a notch better at 166th place.

 

 

·        India Joins Ashgabat agreement

 

  • India joined Ashgabat Agreement on the establishment of an International Transport and Transit Corridor between the Iran, Oman, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.
  • The agreement was signed in 2011, which envisages facilitation of transit and transportation of goods between Central Asia and the Persian Gulf.
  • According to the External Affairs Ministry, the accession to the Agreement would diversify India’s connectivity options with Central Asia and have a positive influence on its trade and commercial ties with the region.

 

NATIONAL

 

  • Union Budget 2018: Key takeaways and sector-wise highlights

 

  • Finance Minister Arun Jaitley delivered the current government’s fifth and last full financial budget (Budget 2018 for the fiscal year 2018-19) amid subdued economic growth, challenging fiscal situation and farm distress.

 

Here are the key highlights from the Union Budget 2018:

Economic Health

  • Economy firmly on course to achieve high growth of 8%
  • GDP growth at 6.3% in the second quarter of 2017-18 signals turnaround of the economy
  • Growth in the second half likely to remain between 7.2% to 7.5%

Agriculture and Rural Economy

  • MSP for all unannounced Kharif crops increased to 150%
  • Institutional credit for agri-sector increased to Rs.10 lakh crore in 2017-18
  • Fisheries, aquaculture and animal husbandry corpus at Rs.10,000 crore
  • New scheme Operation Greens with an outlay of Rs 500 Crore
  • Govt to develop and upgrade existing 22,000 rural haats
  • Agri-Market Infrastructure Fund with a corpus of Rs.2000 crore
  • Allocation for Ministry of Food Processing doubled to Rs.1400 crore
  • Loans to Self Help Groups (SHG) of women to increase to Rs.75,000 crore by March 2019.
  • Increased allocation of National Rural Livelihood Mission to Rs 5750 crore
  • Under Ujjwala Scheme distribution of free LPG connections will be given to 8 crore poor women
  • Housing for All by 2022 – more than one crore houses to be built by 2019 in rural areas

Education, Health, and Social Protection

  • Estimated budgetary expenditure on health, education and social protection at Rs.1.38 lakh crore
  • Ekalavya Model Residential School to be set up for tribal children
  • Investments for research & infra in premier educational institutions at Rs.1 lakh crore in next 4 years
  • Allocation on National Social Assistance Programme at Rs. 9975 crore
  • NHPS to cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries)
  • NHPS to provide coverage up to 5 lakh rupees per family per year for hospitalisation
  • Rs 1200 crore for the National Health Policy, 2017 – additional Rs.600 crore for TB patients
  • 24 new Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals

Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) and Employment

  • Major thrust for Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) – allocation at Rs. 3794 crore
  • Target of Rs.3 lakh crore for lending under MUDRA Yojana
  • 70 lakh formal jobs to be created this year
  • Govt to make 12% contribution of new employees in the EPF for all the sectors for 3 years
  • Outlay of Rs.7148 crore for the textile sector
  • Increase budgetary allocation on infrastructure for at Rs.5.97 lakh crore
  • To develop 10 prominent tourist sites into Iconic Tourism destinations
  • 35000 kms road construction in Phase-I at an estimated cost of Rs.5,35,000 crore

Railways

  • Railways Capital Expenditure pegged at Rs.1,48,528 crore
  • 4000 kilometers of electrified railway network slated for commissioning
  • Work on Eastern and Western, dedicated freight corridors
  • Over 3600 km of track renewal targeted in current fiscal
  • Redevelopment of 600 major railway stations
  • Mumbai’s local train network to have 90 kilometers of double line tracks at Rs.11,000 crore cost
  • 150 km of additional suburban network planned for Mumbai
  • Suburban network of 160 km at for Bengaluru metropolis

Air Transport

  • To expand airport capacity more than five times to handle a billion trips a year
  • Regional connectivity – 56 unserved airports and 31 unserved helipads to be connected
  • To establish unified authority for regulating all financial services

Digital Economy

  • NITI Aayog to initiate a national program to direct efforts in artificial intelligence
  • Department of Science & Technology to launch Mission on Cyber-Physical Systems
  • Allocation doubled on Digital India programme to Rs 3073 crore
  • To set up 5 lakh wifi hotspots to provide net-connectivity to five crore rural citizens
  • Rs. 10000 crore for creation and augmentation of telecom infrastructure

Defence

  • Development of two defence industrial production corridors.
  • Allocation of Rs 2.95 lakh crore to defence sector.

Emoluments

  • To revise emoluments to Rs.5 lakh for the President
  • Rs 4 lakhs for the Vice President
  • Rs.3.5 lakh per month to Governor
  • Pay for Members of Parliament – law for automatic revision of emoluments every 5 years
  • 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi- Rs.150 crore for commemoration programme

Fiscal Management

  • Budget Revised Estimates for Expenditure at Rs.21.57 lakh crore
  • Revised Fiscal Deficit estimates at 3.5% of GDP
  • To bring down Central Government’s Debt to GDP ratio to 40%

Jaitley announces ‘world’s largest healthcare programme’

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced two new initiatives under the Ayushman Bharat Programme in the Union Budget 2018.

  • Under the programme, Mr. Jaitley announced a new flagship National Health Protection Scheme, providing a health insurance cover of ₹5 lakh a family per annum.
  • The scheme will cover 10 crore vulnerable families, with approximately 50 crore beneficiaries.
  • Mr. Jaitley also announced the creation of health and wellness centres, which will “bring healthcare closer to home”.
  • These centres, 1.5 lakh in number, will provide free essential drugs and diagnostic services. A sum of Rs. 1200 crore had been allocated for this.

·         Thirty Second Surajkund International Crafts Mela Begins

 

  • The 32nd Surajkund International CraftsMela begun in Faridabad, Haryana.

    The Mela is organized by the Surajkund Mela Authority and Haryana Tourism in collaboration with Union Ministries of Tourism, Textiles, Culture and External Affairs.

    The 17-day cultural extravaganza will see a spectacular showcase of regional and international crafts, handlooms, traditions along with some mouth-watering multi-cuisine food for the visitors.

    This year Uttar Pradesh is the theme state and Kyrgyzstan is the Partner Nation.

Climate of Nagaland for Nagaland PSC

Climate of Nagaland

  • Nagaland, the 16th State of the Indian Union, came into being on 1st. December, 1963.
  • Nagaland with a geographical area of about 16,579 Sq. Km. lies between 25°60‟ and 27°40‟ North latitude and 93°20‟ and 95°15‟ East longitude.
  • The state is bounded by Assam in the North and West, by Myanmar and Arunachal Pradesh in the East and by Manipur in the South.
  • Nagaland, being one of the “eight Sisters” commonly called as the North-Eastern Region including Sikkim*, is a land of lush green forests, rolling mountains, enchanting valleys, swift flowing streams and of beautiful landscape.

Temperature and Rainfall Aspects of Climate of Nagaland

  • Climate of Nagaland has a monsoon climate. The state enjoys a salubrious climate. Annual rainfall ranges around 70–100 inches (1,800–2,500 mm), concentrated in the months of May to September.
  • Temperatures range from 70°F (21°C) to 104°F (40°C). In winter, temperatures do not generally drop below 39°F (4 °C), but frost is common at high elevations.
  • Summer is the shortest season in the state that lasts only for a few months.
  • The temperature during the summer season remains between 16°C (61°F) to 31°C (88 °F). Winter makes an early arrival and bitter cold and dry weather strikes certain regions of the state.
  • The maximum average temperature recorded in the winter season is 24°C (75°F).
  • Strong north-west winds blow across the state during the months of February and March.
  • The Climate of Nagaland in general is controlled by its terrain features.
  • It is hot to warm subtropical in areas with elevations of 1000 to 1200 m.
  • The Climate of Nagaland environment is warm sub temperate in areas with elevations of 1200 m and above.
  • The Climate of Nagaland as such is typical of a tropical country with heavy rainfall. Most of the heavy rainfall occurs during four months i.e. June to September.
  • The rain during April to May is low.
  • The temperature varies from 0°C in winter to about 40°C in summer depending on elevation.
  • The average annual temperature ranges from 18°C to 20°C and 23°C to 25°C in the higher and lower elevations, respectively.

Classification of Climate of Nagaland based on Koppen-Geiger

Classification Count Köppen-Geiger Examples
Humid subtropical climate 47 Cwa Kohima, Mon, Wakching, Longching,

Longleng

Subtropical highland oceanic climate 11 Cwb Tuensang, Chintang, Saddle, Shamator, Zunheboto,Fakim
Humid subtropical climate 5 Cfa Dimapur, Naganimora, Naginimora, Barjan, Tuli

 

Agro-Climatic Zone of Climate of Nagaland

  • The Climate of Nagaland to a large extent is controlled by its undulating topographical terrain features.
  • It is hot to warm sub-tropical in area with elevation of 1000-1200m above MSL.
  • The foothill plains, sheltered valleys and the ranges are marked with climatic contrasts.
  • The year is divided into four seasons viz.,
  1. Winter (December-February),Climate of Nagaland
  2. Pre-monsoon (March-April),
  • Monsoon (May-September)
  1. Retreating monsoon (October-November).
  • The beginning of winter is marked by a steep fall in temperature during December. January is the coldest month.
  • In February the temperature starts rising gradually.
  • The winter winds are generally weak and variable.
  • The average annual temperature ranges from 18°C-20°C to 23°C-25°C respectively in the higher and lower elevation.
  • The monsoon lasts for five months from May to September with June, July and August being the wettest months.
  • The following agro-climatic zones in Nagaland are divided into four zones:
  1. Hot per-humid climate
  2. Hot moist sub-humid climate
  • Warm humid climate
  1. Warm per-humid climate

Climate Change aspect of Climate of Nagaland

  • Climate Change has emerged as one of the most serious environmental and socio-economic concerns of our times.
  • It is a global phenomenon with diverse local impacts likely to alter the distribution and quality of our natural resources and adversely affect the livelihood of the people specially the poor and marginalized communities.
  • In 1992, India adopted the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, global initiative to combat climate change.
  • Article 3 of the UNFCCC states that “parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of future and present generations of human kind on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibility and respective capabilities.”
  • A latecomer into the nation’s development process and with a per capita Green House Gas emission barely a fraction of the national average and the magnitude much below that of other industralised states of the country, the state’s economy is closely linked to its natural resource base and climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and forestry.
  • Hence, the state faces an increased risk of the negative impacts of climate change.
  • The state would therefore adopt a climate friendly, equity based and sustainable developmental path taking into account our “common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities”, and our regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances.
  • A State Action Plan on Climate Change would be prepared within the ambit of the National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) albeit with modifications that suits the specific requirements of the state.
  • A climate change cell should be set up to coordinate the gathering of information, conduct research and offer solutions to the problems with regard to food security, change in rainfall patterns etc.
  • Climate change initiatives to be started with the cooperation of the civil society at large to achieve:
  1. Energy efficiency.
  2. Harness renewable energy sources.
  3. Adaptive management in agriculture.
  4. Promote climate friendly technologies.
  5. Launch campaign on 3Rs-recycle, reduce, reuse

03.02.18 Nagaland(NPSC) Current Affairs

NORTH-EASTERN STATES

  • Arunachali yak the first to be registered as new breed

 

  • Yaks, found in the mountainous regions of Arunachal Pradesh, have been registered by the Karnal-based National Bureau of Animal Genetics Resources (NBAGR) as a distinct breed known as Arunachali yak, this being the first instance of such a registration in the country. Union agriculture minister Radha Mohan Singh will formally award the recognition in New Delhi on Wednesday to the representatives of National Research Centre on Yak (NRCY) based at Dirang in Arunachal Pradesh.

 

  • The study found that Arunachali yaks are characterized by their predominantly black body colour and the high fat content in their milk which sometimes goes up to 7.45%. A lactating Arunachali yak produces, on an average, 1.3 kg milk per day. Though the milk is comparatively of poor quantity, it is compensated by the high fat content which makes it useful to produce different milk products.

 

  • However, scientific interventions, especially in the areas of breeding and rearing, have been able to slow down the decline of population as Arunachali yaks still remain the main source of livelihood for many Brokpas (yak rearers). West Kameng and Tawang are mainly dominated by the Monpa community, which treats the yaks as an asset for the rural economy, and rears these animals in organized farms or semi-migratory systems.

 

 

INTERNATIONAL

 

  • Inland Waterways Authority of India signs agreement with World Bank

 

  • Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) signed a project agreement with the World Bank, even as the latter entered into a US $ 375 million loan agreement with the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance for Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP).

 

  • The signing of the Agreement follows the approval of  the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, for the implementation of the US $ 800 million JMVP for capacity augmentation of navigation on National Waterway-1(River Ganga) from Varanasi to Haldia.

 

  • Out of the remaining amount, US $ 380 million is to be sourced through the Government of India counterpart funds from budgetary allocation and proceeds from the bond issue.

 

  • Another US $ 45 million will come from private sector participation under the PPP mode.

 

  • The JMVP, which is expected to be completed by March, 2023, is being implemented with the financial and technical support of the World Bank.

 

  • The project will enable commercial navigation of vessels with the capacity of 1500-2,000 tons on NW-I.

 

 

·        UAE Launches World’s Longest Zip Line

 

  • The United Arab Emiratesmade a record by opening the world’s longest zip line, measuring 83 kmin length.
  • Guinness World Records officials certified the zip line in Ras al-Khaimah.
  • The Jebel Jais Flight takes thrill-seekers atop the country’s largest mountain peak, from a launch pad 1,680 meters (5,512 feet) above sea level.

 

NATIONAL

 

  • Two athletes to represent India at the Winter Olympics

 

  • Luger Shiva Keshavan and cross-country skier Jagdish Singh will represent India at the PyeongChang Winter Olympicswhich begins on February 9.

  • Thirty-six-year-old Keshavan, the country’s best known Winter Olympian, will be taking part in his sixth Games since his debut at Nagano in Japan in 1998.

  • Meanwhile, this will be Jagdish Singh’s maiden Winter Games appearance.

 

  • Textbooks in 4 states to have QR codes: Nilekani

 

  • Schools in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthanwill have QR codes in their textbooks, enabling students to view video tutorial and customized content from smartphones, informed.

 

  • As part of the initiative, textbooks will have digital links with a QR code printed at the lesson and this code will have digital material related to the particular concept, which could be a short video lecture or a tutorial or a customized content.

 

  • Sharing his experiences of working with the government, Nandan said that one of things that he learnt is that government is a big amplifier. “If intervention happens at an early stage, impact will be bigger. The government is currently spending Rs 18,000 crore on education. At the other end, philanthropic capital is also being funded in the sector.

 

  • Dust mitigation plan must for firms

 

  • The Environment Ministry has made it mandatory for companies seeking environment clearance to ensure that they put in place a dust mitigation plan.

 

  • The requirements, specified in a gazette notification on January 25, say that roads leading to or at construction sites must be paved and black-topped. There could be no soil excavation without adequate dust mitigation measures in place. No loose soil, sand, construction waste could be left uncovered. A water sprinkling system was mandatory, and the measures taken should be prominently displayed at the construction site. Moreover, the grinding and cutting of building materials in open area were prohibited and no uncovered vehicles carrying construction material and waste would be permitted.

 

  • The standards were developed by the Central Pollution Control Board as part of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), and will now empower the organisation to fine companies and agencies for not complying with norms.

 

  • Road dust contributed 56% of all PM10 pollution, while it was 38% for PM2.5.

 

  • Before PM2.5 became the focus of attention — for its role in lodging itself in the lungs and for being a key component of diesel emissions — dust was the key villain for a long time. Dust is a generic term for a vast mix of metals and non-metals — silicon, aluminium, titanium, manganese, copper, barium, antimony, selenium and zinc.

 

Gk bit  – PM (particulate matter)

 

  • PM stands for particulate matter (also called particle pollution): the term for a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets found in the air. Some particles, such as dust, dirt, soot, or smoke, are large or dark enough to be seen with the naked eye. Others are so small they can only be detected using an electron microscope.

 

Particle pollution includes:

 

 

  • PM10 : inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 10 micrometers and smaller; and

 

  • 5: fine inhalable particles, with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller.

 

 

  • The average human hair is about 70 micrometers in diameter – making it 30 times larger than the largest fine particle.