Ambient Air Quality Monitoring in Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation Region (Maharashtra, India)

Abstract

Ambient air quality criteria or standards are concentrations of pollutants in the air (usually outdoor air but sometimes indoor air) specified for a variety of reasons including for the protection of human health, buildings, crops, vegetation, ecosystems, as well as for planning and other purposes. Ambient air quality in Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation Region was monitored during the June 2014 to May 2015. Concentrations of Oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulphur (SOx), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and Ammonia (NH3) were collected over successive periods of about 8 hour in a day. Twenty representative sites were selected over the whole stretch of the region for the study. Characteristics of the sites are mainly comprising of the residential, commercial, public places. High volume air sampler was used to measure the concentration of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), oxides of sulphur (SOx), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and Ammonia (NH3). Vasai Virar city municipal corporation region is fast urbanizing city in Maharashtra, India, thereby increasing population in exponential rates. Increasing population lead to burden on the administration of the region and thereby on various services provided by the administration namely transportation, water supply, solid waste disposal, sewage disposal etc. Method used for sampling and analysis of the pollutant are standard IS methods. Results, outcome of the analysis of the collected pollutants are compared to limits as prescribed by National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), 2009. Criteria pollutants SPM, SO2 and NO2 measured are found to have either crossed or on the average of crossing the limits or in the permissible limits of NAAQS. Reasons responsible for the pollutants were observed mainly vehicular pollution and dust suspended in the air due to heavy traffic, transport. While transport related emissions are the major sources of air contamination, increasing building construction, civil infrastructure development activities also contribute to particulates. The exponential rise in volume of vehicles, inappropriate and unplanned traffic flow pattern and human interceptions deserve due attention. The value of SPM was crossing the permissible limit at number of monitoring locations and was exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS). The concentration of SO2, NO2 and NH3 was within of National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) at all the locations. SPM, dust concentrations are responsible for various lung diseases, respirable illness, and heart related diseases in the children as well as adult. Present study necessitating the immediate actions for controlling and efficient management of traffic in the region which is major source of dust and pollution in the region. Plantation of the trees along and sides of the road, Installation of a continuous air monitoring stations at different location in the city will be helpful to tackle pollution issue in the region.