Journal of Environmental Biology

Assessment of urban air pollution and it’s probable health impact

 

S.C. Barman*¹, N. Kumar², R. Singh¹, G.C. Kisku¹, A.H. Khan¹,  M.M. Kidwai¹, R.C. Murthy³, 

M.P.S. Negi⁴, P. Pandey¹, A.K. Verma¹, G. Jain¹ and S.K. Bhargava¹

 

¹Environmental Monitoring Section, ³Metal Analysis Laboratory, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research,

M.G. Marg, Lucknow - 226 001, India

 

²Department of Environmental Science, B.B.A. University, Lucknow - 226 025, India

⁴Biometry and Statistics Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow - 226 001, India

 

(Received: May 25, 2009; Revised received: November 14, 2009; Accepted: January 05, 2010)

 

Abstract: The present study deals with the quantitative effect of vehicular emission on ambient air quality during May, 2006  in urban area of Lucknow city. In this study, SPM, RSPM, SO₂, NO_x and 7 trace metals associated with RSPM were estimated at 10 representative locations in urban area  and one village area for control. Beside this, air quality index (AQI), health effects of different metals and mortality were assessed. The 24 hr average concentration of SPM, RSPM, SO₂ and NO_x was found to be 382.3, 171.5, 24.3 and 33.8 mg m^-3 respectively in urban area and these concentrations were found to be significantly (p<0.01) higher by 94.8, 134.8, 107.4 and 129.6% than control site respectively. The 24 hr mean of SPM and RSPM at each location of urban area were found to be higher than prescribed limit of National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) except SPM for industrial area. The 24 hr mean concentration of metals associated with RSPM was found to be higher than the control site by 52.3, 271.8, 408.9, 75.81, 62.7, 487.54 and 189.5 % for Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Mn and Cr respectively. The inter correlation of metals Pb with Mn, Fe and Cr; Zn with Ni and Cr; Ni with Cr; Mn with Fe and Cu with Cr showed significant positive relation either at p<0.05 or p<0.01 level. Metals Pb, Mn and Cr (p<0.01) and Cu (p<0.05) showed significant positive correlation with RSPM.  These results indicate that ambient air quality in the urban area is affected adversely due to emission and accumulation of SPM, RSPM, SO₂, NO_x and trace metals. These pollutants may pose detrimental effect on human health, as exposure of these are associated with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, neurological impairments, increased risk of preterm birth and even mortality and morbidity.

Key word: Air pollutants, Air quality index, Metals, Health risk

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