Studies on Ambient Air Quality Status of Kolhapur City, Maharashtra, India during Year 2013

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Mangalekar, S.B.^a | Jadhav, A.S.^a | Raut, P.D.^{a; *}

Affiliations: [a] Department of Environmental Science, Shivaji University Kolhapur, Maharashtra – 416004 (India)

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding Author. drpdraut@yahoo.co.in

Abstract: Air pollution is an emerging public health problem in developing countries. Urban activities create more pollution in comparison to rural activities. This paper assesses the ambient air quality status in urban residential area of Kolhapur city. Three sites viz. Shivaji University (SU), Dabholkar Corner (DC) and Mahadwar Road (MR) were selected to spotlight an overview of the total air quality of this region under Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) sponsored National Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Project (NAAQM). The air quality was assessed based on measuring four air pollutants namely sulphur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). From these three areas, two areas viz., Dabholkar Corner (DC) and Mahadwar Road (MR), the average concentrations of RSPM and SPM exceeded the prescribed limits of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), New Delhi. The average concentrations of air pollutants at Dabholkar Corner and Mahadwar Road areas were higher than that of Shivaji University area. Apart from this the SO2 and NOx levels in all three areas remain under prescribed limits of CPCB, New Delhi. The average AQI of Dabholkar Corner and Mahadwar Road areas were found higher than the Shivaji University area. The AQI found to be less during rainy season (June to August). As per AQI calculated, the areas viz. Dabholkar Corner and Mahadwar Road have severe air pollution whereas the area Shivaji University has moderate air pollution.

Keywords: SO₂ and NOx, RSPM, SPM, air quality index (AQI), air pollutants

DOI: 10.3233/AJW-150003

Journal: Asian Journal of Water, Environment and Pollution, vol. 12, no. 3, pp. 15-22, 2015