Assessment of Pollutants in the Air- a Study in Visakhapatnam

Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741

Assessment of Pollutants in the Air- A Study in Visakhapatnam

A. Mary Vijaya Ratna

Lecturer in Physics

St.Joseph’s College for women (A)

Abstract

Climate change is predicted to force India’s natural base, including water resources, forestry and agriculture through changes in rainfall, temperature, monsoon timings and tremendous events. No Country in history has enhanced its altitude of human development without corresponding increase in per capita use of energy. Industrial countries have managed to eliminate SO2 emissions from economic growth. In other words, emissions have fallen even as national income has risen. But they failed to do the same with carbon dioxide emissions. Per capita of CO2 emissions remain closely related to a country’s level of economic development and thus standard of living. The only way to avert climate change is to reduce emissions noticeably. In the year 2016 New York Times column mentioned that Renewable energy investments set efforts to address climate change. Environmental Protection Agency’s clean power plan to curb carbon pollution and other green house gases from power plants will help in renewable energy growth. The objective of finding about the air pollutants in the air is to provide information for the prevention, control and reduction of air pollution. The air quality index is for reporting air quality on a daily basis. The purpose of AQI is to help people know how the local air quality impacts their health. The higher the AQI value, the greater the level of air pollution and greater health concern. I have gathered the information by using primary as well as secondary data. The primary data has been done by collecting data of pollutants present in air from different places in Visakhapatnam. The information has been gathered from CPCB, Air quality index(AQI) ,display at Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation(GVMC) and apps .The data thus collected has been tabulated and reviewed.

Keywords: - Climate Change, Renewable energy, AQI, Green houses gases, Air pollution

Introduction

Human activity is congesting our atmosphere with carbon dioxide and other global warming emissions. These gases act like a cover trapping heat. The result is a network of significant and harmful impacts from stronger, more recurrent storms to dearth in sea level

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rise and destruction. Industrial countries have managed to de-link SO2 emissions from economic growth. In other words emissions have fallen even as national income has risen. But they failed to do the same with carbon dioxide emissions. Per capita of CO emissions remain closely related to a country’s level of economic development and thus standard of living .The only way to avoid climate change is to reduce emissions noticeably. There is a stock of green houses gases in atmosphere which has been built up for many centuries in the process of creating wealth of nations. In the history no Country has ever improved in its human development without increase in its per capita of energy. Climate change is predicted to impact India’s natural base, including water resources, forestry and agriculture, through changes in precipitation, temperature monsoon timings and extreme events. Indoor air pollution and poor urban air quality are listed as two of the world’s worst toxic pollution problem since 2008. Substances causing pollution are called pollutants. An air pollutant is a material in the air that can have adverse effects on humans and ecosystems. The substance can be solid particles, liquid droplets or gases. Pollutants are classified as primary or secondary. Primary pollutants are usually CO gas from motor vehicle exhausts or SO2 released from factories, No and suspended particulate matter. Secondary pollutants are not emitted directly, they form in the air when primary pollutants react or interact. Ground level O3 is a prominent example of secondary pollutant. Air pollution occurs when harmful or excess quantities of substances including gases(such as NH3, NO2,SO2,CO etc), particulates ( both organic and inorganic) and biological molecules are introduced into earth’s atmosphere. It may cause diseases or deaths in humans. It may also cause harm to other living organisms like plants and animals and may damage the environment. Both human activity and natural process generate air pollution. The most common hazards of air pollution are 1) Acid rain,2) Global warming 3) Ozone depletion and 4) Smog formation.

Table 1:- Few Important Pollutants

Air Pollutants Major Anthropogenic Sources Effect on human beings Particulates Industrial process, combustion Toxic effects through several of fuel mechanisms including interface with respiratory track Sulphur Oxide Industrial process, combustion Irritation of respiratory diminished lung system(SO2) of fuel function ,aggravation of asthma Carbon Transportation, Agricultural Toxic, easily enters blood in increasing Monoxide(CO) burning concentrations, impairment of psychomotor functions, headache Nitrogen Transportation(mostly Toxic, respiratory tract problems with dioxide(NO2) automobiles), combustion of increasing concentrations, nasal fuel irritation, breathing discomfort, acute respiratory problems, accumulation of fluids, death of animals

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Ozone(O3) Secondary pollutant derived Toxic, increasing concentrations create from reactions with sunlight nose and throat irritation, fatigue, lack Oxygen and NO2 of coordination

Source: - Secondary data

Methodology

a) Data Collection: - The information has been collected from the primary and secondary sources. b) Area of Study:-About 20 paces in Visakhapatnam have been covered to collect the information. c) Sample Size: -90 samples have been collected from 20 places in Visakhapatnam which include urban cities, rural areas in villages and the rest from CPCB. d) Frame of Analysis: - The information regarding pollutants in the air has been gathered from internet, GVMC display boards, Breezometer app and Newspapers for five days continuously. It has been noted at random timings .Visakhapatnam region has been observed between 4:00pm – 6:00pm regularly for 12 days. The information has been tabulated.

Table 2:- Air Pollutants as observed in Visakhapatnam:

Air Pollutant NO2 SO2 CO PM2.5 Dates

17/12/2019 - - 47.0 - 18/12/2019 34.0 9.0 55.0 155.0 19/12/2019 36.0 9.0 60.0 141.0 20/12/2019 31.0 9.0 56.0 154.0 21/12/2019 35.0 9.0 54.0 133.0 22/12/2019 45.0 10.0 0.0 137.0 23/12/2019 38.0 9.0 50.0 133.0 24/12/2019 37.0 8.0 49.0 161.0 25/12/2019 48.0 11.0 48.0 209.0 26/12/2019 56.0 10.0 46.0 199.0 27/12/2019 64.0 10.0 45.0 120.0 28/12/2019 59.0 10.0 45.0 103.0 29/12/2019 40.0 9.0 48.0 148.0 Source :Secondary data

Volume 10 Issue 3 - 2020 120 www.joics.org Journal of Information and Computational Science ISSN: 1548-7741

From the above table we can observe that on the whole it has moderate Air quality index. On 25/12/2019 the Air quality was poor since PM 2.5 level has crossed 200.The units for all the pollutants is taken in μg/m3 in all the tables below. The survey for 20 places has been tabulated for 5days i.e. from 25/12/2019 – 29/12/2019. Carbon monoxide content is examined to be more in most of the places. In places where small scale industries and factories are present even SO 2 is viewed to be Awareness programs must be started in various places by local engineers and scientists to make people responsive of the importance of alternate energy technologies.

Table 3:- Air Pollutants as observed 25/12/2019