· Hazardous waste laboratory helps generate data for policy measures

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has acquired two new facilities, a mobile online ambient air quality monitoring station and hazardous waste laboratory, which were inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda here on Saturday.

The mobile laboratory monitors the air quality at a site and assesses air pollution caused by sources including industries and exhaust gas from automobiles. It will help determine whether the air quality at a particular site meets the environmental standardsand also in establishing grounds for necessary measures.

The laboratory has gas analysers and meteorological sensors to assess air quality and will help generate data needed for policy measures for corrective action on environment front, PCB officials observed.

The hazardous waste laboratory has been equipped with an apparatus to measure the flash point of volatile liquids based on which the ignitability could be assessed and bomb calorimeter to measure the calorific value of the organic substances. It also has TCLP extractor, TOC analyser and a pH meter.

The PCB Member Secretary, Rajeshwar Tiwari and other officials were present at inauguration of these facilities.