Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research Vol. 9, No. 1, 2019, 3757-3761 3757 Assessment of Air Pollution by PM 10 and PM 2.5 in Nawabshah City, Sindh, Pakistan Asif Ali Siyal Saleem Raza Samo Zafar Ali Siyal Department of Energy and Environment Department of Energy and Environment Department of Energy and Environment Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University of Engineering, Science and Technology, of Engineering, Science and Technology, of Engineering, Science and Technology, Nawabshah, Pakistan Nawabshah, Pakistan Nawabshah, Pakistan [email protected] [email protected] Kishan Chand Mukwana Shakeel Ahmed Jiskani Abdullah Mengal Department of Energy and Environment Department of Energy and Environment Department of Mechanical Engineering, Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University Engineering, Quaid-e-Awam University Balochistan University of Engineering of Engineering, Science and Technology, of Engineering, Science and Technology, and Technology, Khuzdar, Pakistan Nawabshah, Pakistan Nawabshah, Pakistan [email protected] Abstract—Increased traffic density due to urbanization is a global problem with a substantial effect on public health, major cause of air quality deterioration. Atmospheric primarily in major cities where the daily mass concentration particulate matter (PM) constitutes one of the most challenging of airborne particulate matter (PM) exceeds the permissible issues in environmental research. This study was designed to levels set by the WHO and NEQS [2]. Airborne PM assess PM 10 and PM 2.5 pollution at ten main locations in comprises a complex mixture of different solid and liquid Nawabshah. Analysis of PM 10 and PM 2.5 pollution was carried particles suspended in the air either for a long or short time randomly at different selected locations of the city. The highest depending upon their size and chemical composition in space concentration of PM was found at Mohini bazar (MB) and 10 and time [3, 4]. According to [5], PM is a heterogeneous the highest concentration for PM 2.5 was found at New Naka mixture of organic, inorganic and biological compounds (NN). The mean concentration of PM was 78.3% higher than 10 (e.g., dust, soot, metals, salts, polycyclic aromatic world health organization (WHO) standards and 35% than Pakistan’s National Environmental Quality Standards hydrocarbons (PAHs), aromatic amines, bacterial products (NEQS). The mean concentration of PM was 47.3% and (endotoxins) and fungi). PM pollution is mostly described in 2.5 terms of particle size. Aerodynamic diameter is one of the 26.3% higher respectively. Mean concentrations of PM 2.5 on day-2 and day-10 were found lower than those set by NEQS, most important criteria to classify PM into different while mean concentrations of PM 10 on all days exceeded the categories. Transportability of PM in the atmosphere and WHO and NEQS standards indicating that the city was heavily inhaling ability can be described according to its polluted more with PM 10 than with PM 2.5. Re-suspension of aerodynamic diameter [6]. PM size fractions range from dust particles due to traffic flow, open burning of unmanaged PM 1, PM 2.5 , PM 4, PM 7, to PM 10 . PM with an aerodynamic solid waste on the sides of the road and in the street, and diameter ≤10 microns is known as coarse particles (PM 10 ) improper handling of construction and demolition waste were and PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≥2.5 microns is identified as the main sources for PM pollution in the city. termed as fine particles (PM 2.5 ) [5, 7-9]. Exposure to higher levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 can cause health PM (e.g., PM and PM ) are generated from a variety of problems. High levels of PM 10 and PM 2.5 are a call for the 2.5 10 implementation of strict measures to control PM pollution at sources including natural and human sources. Natural Nawabshah in order to protect public health and the sources include windblown surface soils, sea sprays and environment. pollutants from forest fires [10, 11]. Man-made sources for PM 2.5 include motor vehicles and fossil fuel combustion. Keywords-particulate matter; pollution; environmental Sources for PM 10 include construction and demolition deterioration; human health; strict measures activities, traffic-related resuspension of particles, abrasion of brakes and tires and industrial process related emissions I. INTRODUCTION [4, 12]. In the current study, the major sources of PM Potential threats to human health and the environment emissions were associated with road traffic. Authors in [13] mainly due to air pollution have now become an increasing reported that major sources for the release of PM were concern, attracting attention [1]. Air pollution is one of the related to traffic. Presently the world’s most considerable most critical global issues. Urban air pollution epitomizes a health risks are primarily associated with air pollution, Corresponding author : Zafar Ali Siyal www.etasr.com Siyal et al.: Assessment of Air Pollution by PM 10 and PM 2.5 in Nawabshah City, Sindh, Pakistan Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research Vol. 9, No. 1, 2019, 3757-3761 3758 particularly PM pollution [14, 15]. Like other air pollutants, exposure to PM pollution. In addition, the locations selected PM is also considered as one of major concern [2, 4]. The for carrying out this research work were categorized as (a) presence of PM poses more danger to human health than that highly dense commercial and (b) residential areas. Selecting of ground-level ozone and other common air pollutants (like the locations for PM pollution assessment required carbon monoxide) [8]. Particle size is one of the significant comprehensive study and the selection of the sites was based features which stimulus the accumulation rate of particles in upon the criteria of increasing urban population growth, the respiratory system. The severity of health problems rapidly increasing quantities of transportation and the depends upon the size of PM. The smaller the PM size, the development level of the city. In order to get information more deeply it will enter the body and affect the respiratory about PM 2.5 and PM 10 in Nawabshah, 10 main locations with tract [16-19]. The health effects can be acute or chronic different characteristics were selected for assessment. respiratory disorder (e.g., cardiovascular and lung cancer), Assessment of PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollution was carried out at depending upon the particle size [20, 21]. Exposure to PM different times and days. Data were collected at each location pollution may also cause increase in hospital admission, for later analysis. Table I shows the locations and their labels respirational symptoms, exacerbation of prolonged in Nawabshah city, selected for data collection. respiratory, decrease lung function and premature death [22- 25]. Authors in [9] reported that an estimated 4.2 million TABLE I. CITY LOCATIONS people died worldwide mainly due to exposure of PM 2.5 in Location names Labels 2015. Authors in [26] elucidated that PM≤10 increased the New Naka NN prevalence of respiratory and cardiovascular disorders. Hospital Road HR Masjid road MR Air pollution, particularly PM pollution, became a major Mohini bazar MB issue in Nawabshah as it is expanding rapidly due to Sakrand road SR population growth, vehicle number, urbanization, and Railway station RS industries like Habib Sugar Mill (HSM) and Bandhi Sugar Bucheri road BR Mill (BSM). This study was designed to assess air quality Habib Sugar Mills HSM Society Chowk SC deterioration by PM 10 and PM 2.5 pollution and to identify Quaid-e-Awam University of PM and PM sources in Nawabshah, which has not been QUEST 10 2.5 Engineering, Science and Technology done previously by any study. The objectives of the current study are: B. Equipment and Data Collection • To survey the city areas and determine the sensitive Hourly concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 were taken for a points where PM concentration is significant. month. The selection of sites was based on traffic oriented • To assess the concentration of PM in the ambient air of areas and on the occurrence of highest concentrations to Nawabshah. which the population is likely to be directly or indirectly • To visit the hospitals and assess the health impacts exposed. AEROCET 531 was used to assess the associated with PM pollution. concentrations of PM 10 and PM 2.5 . This equipment can be Findings of the current study will be helpful for the used for testing/measuring PM size fractions PM 1, PM 2.5 , government and environmental protection agencies to take PM 4, PM 7, PM 10 and total suspended particles (TSP). strict measures for monitoring and control of PM pollution AEROCET 531 is a portable battery-operated unit which and to bring the levels according to standards provided by counts small particulates, calculates their mass profile per the local and international environmental agencies. cubic foot of air samples and provides real time information. The equipment tests particle size of PM 2.5 and PM 10 . The real II. MATERIALS AND METHODS time count information is displayed on LCD in two channels. A. Site Description and Selection The stored particle count data is used for 8 particle sizes and an algorithm derives the mass concentration for the sample. Nawabshah is located in Shaheed Benazirabad district and is the central city of Sindh province. Nawabshah has III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION latitude 26.25 oN and longitude 68.4 oE. Being located at the center of district Sindh, Pakistan, Nawabshah is considered A. Assessment of PM 10 and PM 2.5 Pollution in Nawabshah as one of the most important and rapidly expanding cities. Urbanization and growth in energy use leads to HSM is also located in Nawabshah and during operation significant impacts on air quality.