Air Quality Indices to Understand the Ambient Air
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View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ePrints@Bangalore University I.J.S.N., VOL.5 (3) 2014: 531-541 ISSN 2229 – 6441 AIR QUALITY INDICES TO UNDERSTAND THE AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN VICINITY OF DAM SITES OF DIFFERENT IRRIGATION PROJECTS IN KARNATAKA STATE, INDIA Ravikumar, P., Prakash, K.L. & Somashekar, R.K. Department of Environmental Science, Bangalore University, Bangalore. ABSTRACT Ambient air quality monitoring was carried out in the vicinity of dam and nearby residential sites in four river basins in Karnataka with reference to SPM, RSPM, SO2 and NOx, employing Envirotech APM-460 Respirable Dust Sampler with provision to keep impingers having absorbing reagent. Further, three different methods of Air quality index (AQI) calculation on based on SPM and RSPM values were used to evaluate the prevailed ambient air quality in the near and surroundings areas at the time of dam constructional activities. The concentrations of SPM, RSPM, SO2 and NOx near the dam sites were respectively 540, 170, 5.8 and 17.9 g/m3 in Varahi river basin; 440, 158, 3.8 and 11.4 g/m3 in SLIS river 3 basin and, 255.55, 83.3, 2.0 and 1.7g/m in SRLIS river basin. The SPM, RSPM and SO2 concentrations was 340, 70 and 3 0.3 g/m in the vicinity of dam site of Bellary nala river basin while NOx concentration was below the detectable limit. AQI calculations revealed that the dam sites in all four river basins were high to severely pollute compared to other monitored stations, owing to its construction activities. KEYWORDS: Suspended particulate matter (SPM), Respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM), Quality Rating, Air quality index (AQI), Oak Ridge National Air Quality Index (ORAQI). INTRODUCTION characteristics of pollutants (Samoli et al., 2005), specific Air pollution a potentially lethal form of pollution occurs city characteristics (Samoli et al., 2007), and potential in the form of gases or particles in the atmosphere due to confounders including temperature and humidity (Aga et continuous mixing, transformation and trans-boundary al., 2003; Zeka et al., 2005). Evaluation of current air transportation of air pollutants that make air quality of a quality levels, regulatory standards and scientific literature locality unpredictable. The air we breathe can get polluted on outdoor and indoor air pollution, and health effects are by natural contaminants like fogs, pollen, bacteria, mist important to identify the burden, develop and implement products from volcanic eruption apart from mad-made interventions and to fill knowledge gaps in urban areas contaminants like dust, smoke, fumes and gases from (Nandasena et al., 2010). The major sources for vehicles and industrials, aerosols etc. The growth of atmospheric particles are industrial activities, energy population, industry and number of vehicles and improper production, construction, urban waste treatment and implementation of stringent emission standards make the vehicle exhaust (Bilos et al., 2001). The trends of problem of air pollution still worse (Ravindra et al., 2001). urbanization and population growth has resulted more During the past decade, the annual mean levels of number of vehicles and contributing vehicular gaseous respirable suspended particulates and oxides of nitrogen emissions such as SO2, NOx, CO, O3, benzene and and ozone have increased and exceeded the air quality hydrocarbons (Bhanarkar et al., 2005). Even after decades (Chan-Yeung, 2000) and adverse health effects of air of industrialization, air pollution has become a major pollution, even at relatively low levels remain a public environmental issue for both developed and developing concern (Ren and Tong, 2008). However, the magnitude countries as poor air quality has both acute and chronic of effect estimates varies across cities and countries effects on human health (Yang et al., 2004, Afroz et al., (Analitis et al., 2006; Katsouyanni et al., 2001; Samet et 2003). The relationship between environment and the al., 2000a), hindering interpretation and generalization of development is one of the most burning issues of the the causal association between air pollution and health. Air present times. In recent years, a large number of studies pollution is increasingly documented as a threat to public on health impacts due to air pollution have been health in most developing countries because the analysis at undertaken in developing countries (Anonymous, 1980). various localities showed that long-term exposure to PM2.5 Despite the increasing evidence of negative impact of air increases the risk of non-accidental mortality by 6% per a quality on human health (Dockery et al., 1993a, b; Pope et 10 µg/m3 increase, independent of age, gender, and al., 1995; Künzli et al., 2000), not much data on ambient geographic region and exposure to SO2 increases mortality air quality, a pre-requisite for health studies, is available from lung cancer (Chen et al., 2008; Dutton et al., 2009). for most of the medium size cities or towns. Some investigators have attempted to explain the Among air pollutants, particulate matter (PM) is a heterogeneity of effect estimates among regions in terms ubiquitous and it is especially a major problem due to its of different levels of air pollutants (Samoli et al., 2001), substantial adverse health effects, visibility reduction and 531 Ambient air quality data in vicinity of dam sites of different irrigation projects soiling of buildings (Seinfield, 1975). Atmospheric Longitude, 30 Km towards south of Mundargi in Gadag particulate matters (PM) have been of significant district of Mundargi taluk and 12 Km west of environmental attention due to their impact on human Huvinahadagali town in Bellary district. The total health, plants, aquatic life and materials (Banerjee and catchment area is 19850 Km2 (7754 sq. miles) and Pandey, 1989; Pradeepta K. Bhuyan et al., 2010). Further, command area is 480.94 Km2. The command area the presence and distribution of varied concentration of provides irrigation facility to taluks of Gadag, Koppal and pollutants in the atmosphere is mainly dependent upon the Bellary districts, covering Mundargi and Gadag taluk in type of the source, such as fixed or mobile, anthropogenic Gadag District; Koppal taluk in Koppal District on left or natural sources, and also associated with the level of side and Hadagali taluk in Bellary District on right side, economic activity. Additionally the meteorological and which receives ill-distributed, very low rainfall. topographical factors directly affect the distribution and SRLIS (Sri Rameshwara nala lift irrigation scheme) river movement of these air pollutants, culminating in ambient basin comes under northern dry zone of tenfold Agro- concentrations that may harm people, structures, and climatic zone of Karnataka. An intake structure / lift (750 environment. In general, the effects on people are most 04’ 15” E longitude and 160 19’ 30” N latitude) has been intense in large urban centers with significant emission constructed across the river Ghataprabha near Aralimatti sources, unfavorable dispersion characteristics and high village in Gokak Taluk, Belgaum District, which is located population densities. Pollution type, extent, and duration towards north of Koujalgi in Gokak Taluk. Its command of exposure, age, individual susceptibility, and other area has been distributed in Ramdurg and Saudatti taluks factors play a significant role in determining whether of the Belgaum district. The net irrigable command area is someone will experience pollution-related health 138.0 Km2 (13800 ha). Gross command area of 180.23 problems. Hence, an attempt was made in the present Km2 (18022.7 ha) was brought under irrigation from the study to compare the levels of SPM, RSPM, SO2 and NO2 proposed project covering 29 villages in Gokak, Ramdurg during construction phase at different environmental and Saundatti taluk of Belgaum district. backdrops near the vicinity of dam sites of four irrigation Bellary nala river basin fall under northern dry and projects initiated at different river basins in Karnataka transition zone of tenfold Agro-climatic zone of Karnataka State, India, Namely, SLIS (Singatalur lift Irrigation and has a semiarid subtropical climate, located at 722m scheme), SRLIS (Sri Rameshwara nala lift irrigation elevation above MSL (mean sea level). Bellary nala is a scheme) and Bellary nala river basins in Belgaum district major tributary of Markandeya river, near Yellur village in and Varahi river basin in Udupi district. An effort has also Belgaum taluk, which carried with it sewerage water of been made to gather information on the noise quality Belgaum city along with the rainwater flow. The dam site prevailed near the dam site during construction. of Bellary nala river basin is geographically located at 150 Study Area 58’ N latitude and 740 38’ E Longitude, which crosses Varahi river basin, located in Udupi district, with its dam Bellary Nala near Karadigudda near Hudli village (about site situated at approximately 6 kms from Siddapura, 26 km from Belgaum city) in Belgaum Taluk. The total Kundapura taluk, Udupi district with a latitude of 130 catchment area of Bellary Nala is 254 km2 (25400 ha). The 39’15” N and a longitude of 740 57’0”E. The total net command area is 82 km2 (8200 Ha) stretching to 15 drainage area of the river is about 755.20 sq km. This river km2 (1500 ha) in Gokak and 67 km2 (6700 ha) in Saudatti basin is having a catchment area of 293.0 Km2 (29300 ha) Taluks of Belgaum District. Bellary Nala irrigation command area of 157.02 Km2 (15702 ha) covering part of project aimed at irrigating agricultural lands of drought fed Kundapura (83.24 Km2) and Udupi (73.78 Km2) taluks of villages coming under Gokak and Saundatti taluks, Udupi District. River Varahi is a major west flowing river Belgaum district. in the west coast in Udupi district, which originates from the high peaks of the Western Ghats near Guddakoppa MATERIALS & METHODS village in Hosanagar taluk, Shimoga district at an altitude The number of locations depends upon the variability of of about 761m above MSL and flows for a length of 88 concentration over the area under survey.