Affiliations: Department of Environmental Science, University of
Kalyani, Kalyani – 741235, West Bengal, India | Faculty Councils for Postgraduate Studies, University
of Kalyani, Kalyani – 741235, West Bengal, India
Abstract: Health effects of air pollution are raising concern to the
residents of Kolkata. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the
association between the levels of air pollutants and pulmonary function (FVC,
FEV_1, FEF_{25-75%} and MVV) of adult females living in two different air pollutant
zones of Kolkata, West Bengal. The air pollution data of the two ambient air
quality-monitoring stations located at Rabindrabharati and Victoria Memorial
was collected from West Bengal Pollution Control Board, Kolkata for the period
from January 2012 to March 2012. Study was conducted on two hundred females of
the age range 17-22 years, subdivided into two groups from living within 3 km
radius of the two monitoring stations. They were investigated for their
spirometric lung functions by the method and technique recommended by American
Thoracic Society. Results were expressed as mean ± SD and
independent samples T test was conducted to compare between two groups. Results
revealed that PM_{10}, SO_2 concentrations were significantly higher in
Rabindrabharati zone, whereas no significant differences were noted in NO_2 and
CO concentrations though values were higher at Rabindrabharati than Victoria
Memorial. FVC, FEV_1, FEF_{25-75%} and MVV were significantly lower in females of
Rabindrabharati zone. Exposure to high air pollutant concentration might be
associated with reduced pulmonary function in adult females.
Keywords: Air pollution, FVC, FEV[TeX:] _1, FEF[TeX:] _{25-75%}, MVV
