Open Journal of Air Pollution, 2012, 1, 22-30 http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/ojap.2012.12003 Published Online September 2012 (http://www.SciRP.org/journal/ojap) Ambient Air Quality Surveillance and Indexing in and around Mining Clusters in Western Kachchh Region, Gujarat, India B. Anjan Kumar Prusty* Gujarat Institute of Desert Ecology (GUIDE), Opp. Changleshwar Temple, Bhuj, India Email: [email protected], [email protected] Received June 9, 2012; revised July 17, 2012; accepted August 5, 2012 ABSTRACT Generation of baseline information about ambient air quality of any given region assumes significance, when 1) the area is an active mine site, 2) the area is proposed to be mined out in future, and 3) industrialization in the area is in fast pace. Ambient air quality monitoring (with respect to SPM, RPM, SO2, NOx and CO) was carried out in and around two mining complexes in western parts of Kachchh district in Gujarat, India to generate baseline air quality status of the area. This area has two major mine complexes and various large scale industrial projects (thermal power plants, cement plants and several ports and jetties) are also in pipeline. Ambient air sampling was carried out in four locations each within five km radial distance from two major mine sites, i.e. Panandhro and Mata-na-Madh. Air Quality Indexing was done for all the locations, since it is a simplest way for the prediction of ambient air quality status of any region with respect to industrial, residential and rural areas. Of the eight locations studied the air quality for six locations fell under fairly clean (Light Air Pollution, AQI 25 - 50) category, while the rest (rural areas in the region), had relatively better air quality and fell under clean (Clean Air, AQI 10 - 25) category. Keywords: Air Quality Index; Ambient Air Quality; Mining; Western Kachchh 1. Introduction consisting of 98.0 MT. The production of lignite mine is 5.5 MTPA [2]. GMDC restricted supply of lignite from In India mining is one of the core industries contributing Panandhro mining complex during early 2008 to the economic development and has detrimental envi- and reserved the remaining lignite reserve to cater the ronmental impacts, though unavoidable to some extent. captive requirements of two thermal power plants at Pan- Western region of Kachchh district in Gujarat, consisting andhro and Akrimota. Contrary to this, there was 24.4% of Lakhpat and Abdasa Taluks with the adjoining areas of Nakhatrana taluk, is one of the most arid and socio- increase in annual lignite production at Mata-na-Madh economically backward regions. The region is bestowed mining complex (Personal communication with GMDC with several mineral resources, viz. lignite, bentonite, officials) due to diminishing limited mineable reserve at lateriate, limestone and bauxite. Rich mineral resources Panandhro site and to meet rising demands in domestic of the region have opened up the possibilities for the ex- market. pansion of mining activities, industrialization and rapid The major sources of atmospheric emissions in this re- socio-economic development. Until date, there are three gion with opencast mining as a dominant industrial activ- active mining sites in Western parts of Kachchh, i.e. Mata- ity include land clearing, removal of overburden, vehicu- na-Madh, Panandhro and Jadva, of which Panandhro and lar movement, excavation, and loading and unloading of Mata-na-Madh lignite mine belong to Gujarat Mineral ore materials. Dust emanating from the haul roads in lig- Development Corporation (GMDC) and Jadva limestone nite and limestone mines contribute considerably to the mine belongs to M/S Sanghi Cements Ltd. Kachchh has particulate matter content in the atmosphere. Other major 44.6 percent of Gujarat state’s reserves of lignite [1]. The industries, which are operational at present, in the region, total reserve is around 200 MT spread over seven isolated include thermal power plants, cement plants, several pockets, of which Panadhro is the single largest deposit ports and jetties. Environmental contamination due to dust particulates from all of these activities including * Present Address: Environmental Impact Assessment Division, Sálim stone crushing draws serious attention as they create pol- Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Anaikatti (PO), Coimbatore, India. lution problems and pose threat to the ecosystem. The Copyright © 2012 SciRes. OJAP B. A. K. PRUSTY 23 extent of dispersion of the dust emanating from these Air Quality Index (AQI) was proposed and the whole area activities depend on the topographical setting of the area, was categorised accordingly. The detailed categories as vegetation cover and certain micro-meteorological factors. per the AQI are presented in Table 2 [4]. Owing to the The present investigation considered assessment of present scenario and rapid industrialization in the area, Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), Respirable Particu- the present investigation was undertaken to evaluate am- late Matter (RPM), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Sulphur bient air quality status of the area, which can be used for Dioxide (SO2), and Carbon Monoxide (CO). National am- trend analysis after decades of industrialization in the bient air quality standard was prescribed by CPCB region. The specific research questions, those were at- (1995-1996) and later on revised by categorizing different tempted to answer during the present investigation are as areas with respect to pollution potential (Table 1 [3]). As below: per the revised notification, particulate matters have been What is the background concentration of SPM, RPM, divided into two categories, i.e. those with <10 µm aero- NOx, SO2, and CO? dynamic diameter (PM10) and those with <2.5 µm aerody- Do these above mentioned pollutants show any spa- namic diameter (PM2.5). In the present investigation, how- tio-temporal gradient in their availability in the am- ever, RPM indicates those with size <10 µm and does not bient air? further fractionate into fine particles, i.e. PM2.5. Hence, in the absence of stipulated concentration level for particles 2. Materials and Methods with size >10 µm (SPM as per the old standards), the 2.1. Study Area SPM levels in the present investigation was compared with the pre-revised standards (as stipulated earlier). The study area (Figure 1) covering about 5000 km2 area However, for better interpretation of the analytical data, in western Kachchh region, encompasses parts of Table 1. National ambient air quality standard. Concentration in ambient air Pollutant Time weighted average Industrial, residential, rural and Ecologically sensitive area other areas (Notified by central government) Annual average* 50 20 Sulphur dioxide (SO ), μg/m3 2 24 Hours** 80 80 * 3 Annual average 40 30 Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), μg/m ** 24 Hours 80 80 * Particulate Matter (size less than 10 µm) or PM10, Annual average 60 60 3 ** μg/m 24 Hours 100 100 * Particulate Matter (size less than 2.5 µm) or PM2.5, Annual average 40 40 μg/m3 24 Hours** 60 60 8 hours** 100 100 Ozone (O ), μg/m3 3 1 hour** 180 180 Annual average* 0.50 0.50 Lead (Pb), μg/m3 24 Hours** 1.0 1.0 3 8 Hours 02 02 Carbon monoxide (CO), mg/m ** 1 Hour 04 04 * 3 Annual average 100 100 Ammonia (NH3), μg/m ** 24 Hours 400 400 3 * Benzene (C6H6), μg/m Annual 05 05 Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP)—particulate phase only, ng/m3 Annual* 01 01 Arsenic (As), ng/m3 Annual* 06 06 Nickel (Ni), ng/m3 Annual* 20 20 *Annual arithmetic mean of minimum 104 measurements in a year taken twice a week 24 hourly at uniform intervals; **24 hourly or 8 hourly or 1 hourly monitored values as applicable, shall be complied 98% of the time in a year. 2% of the time, they may exceed the limits but not on but not on two consecutive days of monitoring. Source: CPCB [3] http://www.cpcb.nic.in/National_Ambient_Air_Quality_Standards.php (as viewed on 22 January 2010). Table 2. Air quality categories based on AQI. Sr. No. AQI of ambient air Description of ambient air quality 1. <10 very clean 2. 10 - 25 clean 3. 25 - 50 fairly clean 4. 50 - 75 moderately polluted 5. 75 - 100 polluted 6. 100 - 125 heavily polluted 7. >125 severely polluted Source: CPCB [4] Copyright © 2012 SciRes. OJAP 24 B. A. K. PRUSTY about the existing ecosystem types, and to identify the strategic locations for ambient air quality monitoring. For the purpose of obtaining an overall picture about air qua- lity parameters in this region both the lignite mining complexes were considered and accordingly the ambient air quality monitoring stations (AAQMS) were selected in and around the mining sites. Four AAQMS were se- lected with respect to each mine site (Figure 2), of which, one at the mine site and the rest in different directions with respect to the mine centre, and specific details about each of the AAQMS are given in Table 3. The sampling locations were also selected as per Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) specifications, such that the sampler is placed at breathing level which is at a height of 1.5 to 3 meters above ground level. Therefore in all the places, care was taken to see that the instruments were placed Figure 1. Study area showing major mining complexes. suitably, at least at the 1st floor level to avoid accumula- tion of dust lifted from ground level. The method of air Lakhpat, Abdasa and Nakhatrana taluks. This zone is repre- sample collection and analysis is presented in the Table sentative of Kachchh with all landscape elements like 4 [5-8]. Respirable Dust Sampler (RDS, Make: Enviro- forests, agriculture, industries, mining areas, grassland, tech, Model: APM 460) was used for collecting particu- mangroves, salt pans, rocky barrens, wetlands and waste late matter and gaseous samples, and additionally air land.