AIR QUALITY & SIZE CHARACTERIZATION OF PARTICULATE
MATTER AND ITS HUMAN HEALTH EFFECTS IN URBAN HOUSES
OF LUCKNOW THE CAPITAL OF MOST POPULATED STATE OF
INDIA
Alfred Lawrence*1, Sushil kumar Aggarwal2, Seema Joshi1 and Shalima Gupta1
1Department of Chemistry, Isabella Thoburn College, 7 Faizabad Road, Lucknow, India
2 Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences
(SGPGIMS), Lucknow, India
* Corresponding email: [email protected]
SUMMARY
Most of the research work in Lucknow, the second largest city of North India is focused on
outdoor air pollution; very limited work has been done on health effect of indoor air pollution
on human body. Considering this we undertook a study and observed indoor and outdoor air
quality of domestic homes located in urban environment in Lucknow from May 2011 to
October 2011. In collaboration with top medical college doctors of city we surveyed 97
persons to find out different diseases/symptoms being faced due to indoor pollution.
Concentrations of SO2, NO2, CO2, CO, PM10 and PM2.5 were monitored simultaneously
and I/O ratios were calculated at fifteen different houses covering the whole urban city.
Results reveal that at some sights PM10 & PM2.5 were above the permissible limits. Survey
results showed that some urban people suffered from acute respiratory infections like
bronchial asthma, headache, depression and dizziness.
Keyword: Developing Countries, Bronchial Asthma, Survey
1. INTRODUCTION:
Over the past two decades there has been a rapid increase in urbanization and industrialization
in many cities of India. With this has come a dramatic increase in the number of residences,
office buildings, and manufacturing facilities, together with an increase in both the number
and density of motor vehicles. The urbanization process has both positive and negative effects
on Indoor Air Quality in many cities of the world (Kim 1992). In the last several years, a
growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that in most of the cities the air within the
homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air. Other research
(Taneja et al., 2008) indicates that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors,
indoor air quality (IAQ) is a complex issue, much more so than any single environment issue.
There are numerous pollutants accompanied by their sources present indoors that affect IAQ.
The indoor environment in any premises involves the interactions of a set of factors that are
constantly changing. A Salubrious indoor environment is one that promotes comfort, health,
and wellbeing of the occupants. In it the air is free of significant levels of contaminants and
odors. People spend most of their time indoors; yet, the majority of data on the concentrations
of pollutants are based on measurements conducted outdoors, in one or more control
monitoring sites. Outdoor pollutant concentrations may not be reliable indicators of indoor
and personal pollutant sources (Wallace 1997). Assessment of risk to the community resulting
from exposure to airborne pollutants should ideally include estimation of concentration levels
of pollutants in the microenvironment where people spend their time. Thus for many people
the risk to health may be high due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors. In
addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of the
time are most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the
young, the elderly and chemically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or
cardiovascular disease (Morawska, et al., 2001).Indoor air pollution has become a major
concern in India in recent years as large parts of the Indian population are exposed to some of
the highest pollutant levels in the world. Also, the new studies around the world on health
effects of indoor air pollution have increased confidence in estimates of the risks produced by
indoor pollution exposures. Air pollution (particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur
dioxide) is considered a major environmental risk to human health and according to the World
Health Organization (WHO; www.who.int) it is estimated to cause approximately 2 million
premature deaths worldwide per year. According to the WHO report, particulate matter (PM)
affects more people than any other air pollutant. Even low concentrations of air pollutants
have been related to a range of adverse health effects. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is
considered more dangerous since, when inhaled, PM2.5 may reach the peripheral regions of
the bronchioles, and interfere with gas exchange inside the lungs (WHO, 2007). Chronic
exposure to particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory
diseases, as well as of lung cancer. Very limited work has been carried out in relation to Air
pollution from growing urbanization and its effect on human health. Population and Pollution
are strongly correlated to each other, if population increases so does the pollution
(Bark,2005).Population explosion ,Industrial growth and increase in vehicles are the main
reason for air pollution nowadays (Bell, 2006). Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh, the
most populated state of India. It is the second largest city in northern and central India. It is
placed among the fastest growing cities and is now a metropolitan city of India and is rapidly
emerging as a manufacturing, commercial and retailing hub. According to the World’s Bank’s
survey in 2004, Lucknow ranks 7th in the world regarding air pollution. Report of Census
report 2011 reveals that the total population of Lucknow is more than 4.5 million and by 2021
it will cross 7 million i.e. a growth of approximately 90%. The vehicle population of
Lucknow is more than 1.2 million with a growth of 9.23% over last year. Thus all these data
indicates an urgent need of assessment and research on indoor air quality in urban houses to
ameliorate the incoherent risks from these pollutants on health and wellbeing of the concerned
population.
2. METHODOLOGY:
Site description
Lucknow city is located at
26º51ˈN and 80º55ˈE. It
is the capital of Uttar
Pradesh,
the most polluted state of
India, and is the second
largest city of north India.
This city is one of the most
famous tourist spot of the
country.
Summers
are
extremely hot with a
maximum of 45ºC, while
winters are cold and foggy with minimum of 8ºC. Heavy rain and high humidity mark the
monsoon season. The total population of the city is 2,815,601 according to 2011 census with
an area of 310.1 square kilometer. The present study is being conducted from May 2011 to
October 2011 (as a part of ongoing measurement from summer season 2011 to 2013).The
Sampling sites are distributed according to the population distribution as ‘unplanned and
densely populated colonies’, ‘well planned colonies’, and ‘roadside colonies’. For each type
of sampling area, five different houses are selected so as to cover most of the area of
Lucknow city.
Filling of the Respondant Schedule/Questionnaire
The occupants of each house are asked to complete activity diary/questionnaire providing
information related to house characteristics, number of occupants, different activities of
cooking, cleaning, storing wastes etc., A Questionnaire survey is common way to find out
problems associated with the persons at home. It also gives us an idea about their daily
activity and lifestyle. An indication whether adequate procedure/ method are there or not can
be determined from the survey. A questionnaire (respondent schedule) was prepared for the
personal interview with the occupants of houses at all monitoring sites. It was aimed to obtain
a real picture of house in general and about different activities, methods, problems,
interferences which may be caused during monitoring the sites. The Questionnaire was
prepared under the guidance of Doctors from the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute for
Medical Sciences at Lucknow (SGPGIMS).
Methodology
Concentration of indoor CO, CO2 SO2, NO2, PM2.5 and
PM10 are measured (8 hours) in the living room of the
houses, where people spent most of their time. On a
particular day, full-day sampling (24 hours) of indoor and
outdoor was done, this sampling time covered activities
for the entire day
inside houses, such as
prayer,
cleaning,
making of food, as
well
as
outdoor
activities when the
traffic was low and
high, the use of
generators
for
electricity,
and
sweeping. For outdoor
The Handy Sampler
measurement of pollutant concentration, the sampler is
placed 1 m away from any potential source and at a
height of 2m above the ground level. All gaseous
pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2), are measured by a portable
YES-205 multigas monitor and CO2 is measured by a
portable YES-206 Falcon IAQ monitor. NO2 and SO2 are
also measured and compared by the impinger method
(spectrophotometer method) using handy samplers. PM10
and PM2.5 are measured gravimetrically using APM-550
Fine particulate Sampler (Envirotech) at a flow rate of
1m3/hr controlled by critical orifice. PM10 samples are
Fine particulate sampler APM550
collected using 47 mm diameter, 2 μm pore size PTFE filter and PM2.5 samples are collected
on PTFE filter which are Whatman make, pore 2µm, dia 46.2mm with PP ring supported.
Blank corrections are also done to avoid the high background values in analysis.
Quality Assurance
In order to insure the validity of the data generated from the study and to meet the data
quality objectives set forth by the study it is imperative to establish quality assurance and
quality control measures in each aspect of the study. Hence to make the study more efficient
and accurate regular quality assurance checks are made. Every instrument is calibrated before
and at the end of every monitoring period or 30 days whichever is less. While doing
calibration, calibration forms and control charts are filled; all these Quality Control records
including calibration forms and control charts will be added to the final report.
3. RESULTS:
Table A shows results in ppm (otherwise mentioned) of all the pollutants (TWA#) for so far
monitored period i.e. May 2011 to October 2011 (Summer and Rainy seasons) at all the three
microenvironments with their I/O ratio
Table A – Mean Pollutant concentration levels with their I/O ratios
Well planned colonies
Summer
Rainy
Unplanned and densely
populated colonies
Summer
Rainy
BDL
BDL
0.1±0.1
0.1±0.1
0.3±0.2
BDL
BDL
BDL
0.6±0.3
0.8±0.5
0.9±0.3
0.1±0.1
I/O
-----
------
0.16
0.712
0.33
------
Indoor
359±13
358±6
362±10
372±16
382±4
362±8
403±24
397±7
408±7
490±22
490±14
406±14
I/O
0.86
0.9
0.88
0.75
0.77
0.89
Indoor
0.051±0.006
0.028±0.006
0.01±0.08
0.054±0.005
0.021±0.009
0.01±0.008
0.084±0.01
0.052±0.01
0.023±0.006
0.091±0.003
0.047±0.02
0.07±0.003
I/O
0.60
0.53
0.43
0.59
0.44
0.14
Indoor
BDL
BDL
BDL
0.1±0.1
BDL
BDL
BDL
BDL
0.2
0.3±0.2
BDL
BDL
I/O
------
------
------
0.33
------
-------
Indoor
0.0008±0.001
0.004±0.003
0.019±0.003
0.02±0.04
0.012±0.006
0.05±0.004
0.0012±0.0003
0.022±0.01
0.053±0.02
0.019±0.007
0.019±0.005
0.09±0.04
I/O
0.66
0.026
0.35
0.1
0.63
0.55
Indoor
67±14
54±8
78±9
69±24
83±11
64±4
Indoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
CO
CO2
NO2
NO
SO2
Roadside colonies
Summer
Rainy
Outdoor
95±8
70±6
128±16
94±18
149±8
78±11
I/O
0.7
0.77
0.60
0.73
0.55
0.82
Indoor
45±9
35±8
58±6
46±11
74±15
52±8
53±5
49±6
72±9
81±14
81±12
64±6
0.84
0.71
0.80
0.56
0.91
0.81
Outdoor
I/O
PM10*
PM2.5*
#TWA: Time weight average concentration for a normal 8 hour workday; BDL = Below
Detection limit
I/O = Ratio between Indoor and Outdoor; * μg/m3
Full Day Variation:
In all the three microenvironments full day and night monitoring was done once a month. Full
day variations means round the clock (24 hours) monitoring of pollutants, which covers all
indoors and outdoors activities taking place in a day. The data collected so far indicates that
during summer season maximum full day variation are at roadside houses, Fig. 1 shows full
day and night indoor variation for roadside houses (during summer season) and it reveals one
major difference as compared to other sites. This site had lots of vehicular emission especially
after 9:00 p.m. and till 6:00 a.m. in the morning when heavy diesel vehicles were allowed
inside the city, which results in the peaks of CO and CO2 rises that settles down after some
time. The concentration levels were low during rainy season (probably due to the wash out
effects by rains). The full day variation at unplanned and densely populated colonies showed
maximum variation. Fig. 2 shows full day variation of all the pollutants at unplanned and
densely populated colonies, houses during rainy season. This shows more or less constant
values of CO2 concentration. But NO2 and SO2 levels show an increase during day time due to
the use of heavy generators which the shopkeepers use as there is scanty supply of electricity
during rainy season.
4. DISCUSSION
We are still in process of gathering data for our study. The data collected so far indicates that
the indoor concentrations levels of pollutants increase from well planned colonies to densely
populated areas and are highest along the roadside. At some sights, PM2.5 & PM10 were found
above the permissible limits. To further investigate the influence of outdoor air-pollutant
concentrations on indoor air-pollutant concentrations we will use regressions analysis. The
most probable categories of sources for these pollutants will be identified using principal
component analysis. Our Survey results show that due to indoor air pollution some urban
people are suffering from acute respiratory infections like pneumonia, allergic rhinitis,
bronchial asthma, chronic obstructive airway disease (COAD), headache, depression and
dizziness.
5. CONCLUSION:
In absence of complete data we cannot make any definitive conclusions but the preliminary
observations suggest a higher level of PM10 & PM2.5 and their levels effects on seasonal
variation. Long term database of pollutants levels indoors and outdoors in these 15 houses in
different microenvironments of urban Lucknow will be useful to state and federal regulatory
agencies, the researchers, consultants, and the general public, and help decision makers
formulate and implement policies to manage and control environmental pollution.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial assistance received from the Council of
Science & Technology, Uttar Pradesh, India under the scheme of Young Scientist (Sanction
letter No. CST/791/1.7.2011). We also thank Dr. (Mrs.) E. S. Charles, Principal, Isabella
Thoburn College for her encouragement, and for providing us the necessary facilities, and
Miss Nishat Fatima for providing help in the preparation of the manuscript.
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