Particulate Matter, SO2 and NO2 Monitoring of Nandurbar City, Maharashtra India

V. S. Shrivastava, Manohar Patil, Subhash Khairnar, Ganesh Bagul, Himmat Patil, Tushar Borane, Yogesh Marathe, Kalpesh Patil,

doi:10.5281/zenodo.15589692

Review Paper | Open Access
Volume 02 | Issue 06 | Article Id IJSRT/250305016

Particulate Matter, SO2 and NO2 Monitoring of Nandurbar City, Maharashtra India
V. S. Shrivastava* Manohar Patil Subhash Khairnar Ganesh Bagul Himmat Patil Tushar Borane Yogesh Marathe Kalpesh Patil
Nanochemistry Research Laboratory, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board Monitoring Project, Nandurbar Taluka Vidhayak Samiti’s G.T. Patil Arts, Commerce and Science College, Nandurbar-425412

Abstract

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the Particulate Matter, SO2 and NO2 Monitoring of Nandurbar city, Maharashtra, India from April 2023 to March 2024. The findings indicate that the concentration of SPM and PM10 exceeds the permissible limits established by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). A notable spike in SPM and PM10 levels was recorded the months of January, February, March, April, September, October, November, and December. In the months of March and April, SPM and PM 10 crosses the permissible limits at the beginning of Summer due to more wind flow. At the beginning of the winter months of September, and October, and in the festival of light month of November, December SPM and PM 10 is too high. In contrast, the levels of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) remain within the NAAQS guidelines only SO2 was high in the month of April. Sampling was conducted continuously for two days a week at intervals of approximately four hours for SO2 and NO2, and eight hours for PM10, totaling a 48-hour monitoring period. The findings are based on an eight-hour continuous air sampling conducted at each of the three designated sites within Nandurbar city.

Keywords

Ambient air quality, particulate matter, NAAQS, Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide

Introduction

Air pollution is a complex issue in many Indian cities, resulting from several sources, including vehicle emissions, solid waste buildup on roads, industrial gas emissions, construction site debris, waste incineration, and seasonal factors like burning agricultural residues, dust storms, and sea salt. Significant environmental problems are caused by the fastest rate of urbanization, which is made worse by the expansion of industries, population, and vehicles [1]. The rapid economic development accompanying this urban expansion is resulting in severe air quality concerns in many urban areas across India [2]. Furthermore, air pollution is increasingly recognized as a threat to public health in numerous developing nations. It is essential to assess current air quality levels and adopt a scientific approach to understanding both outdoor and indoor air pollution, as well as their health implications [3]. The inhalation of contaminated air can lead to significant health repercussions, particularly in urban settings where pollution levels frequently exceed safe limits [4]. Air pollution is a serious regional and global issue that impacts the economy, society, tourism, and health [5]. Also, Climate change is predicted to increase the frequency of extreme weather events, which can exacerbate air pollution levels and respiratory complications. [6]. The carcinogenic risk is associated with children due to outdoor and indoor air pollution [7]. The continuous infrastructural and economic development exerted pressure on the environmental conditions of the North Maharashtra Region. In the North Maharashtra region, Nandurbar is a city that has recently been urbanized and is developing an industrial zone also [8]. This article provides information about the pollution status of Nandurbar City, this study is specially carried out on the recommendation of Maharashtra Pollution Control Board, Mumbai. No literature is available so far for the study of the pollution status of Nandurbar City, so this study is crucial for knowing the pollution status of Nandurbar City to society.

Ambient air quality monitoring was conducted at three distinct sites within Nandurbar city from April 1st, 2023, to March 31st, 2024. The assessment included parameters such as Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), specifically PM10 (particulate matter with a diameter of 10 µm or less) and PM2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 µm or less), as well as Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) larger than 10 µm, which were measured using gravimetric methods [9-11]. Additionally, the concentrations of gases present in the air, including Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), were determined using an air gas sampling machine. Continuous air sampling for RSPM was performed over eight hours, while gas samples were collected over four hours at each location [12-15].

MATERIALS AND METHODS

2.1. Narration of study Area

Nandurbar city is located in the northwest corner of Maharashtra state, India, in the Khandesh region: Coordinates: 21.37°N 74.25°E, Elevation: 210 meters (688 feet). It is situated at near the border of Gujarat state to the northwest, Madhya Pradesh to the east, Dhule district to the southeast, and Nashik district Nandurbar city is located in the northwest corner of Maharashtra state, India, in the Khandesh region. Nandurbar is a hilly region with a dry climate and tropical temperatures [16]. The following locations are represented in Table-1 that have been shortlisted for Ambient Air Quality Monitoring under NAMP.

Table:1: Locations shortlisted for Air Monitoring Project in Nandurbar City

Sr. No.	Location Finalized	Latitude	Longitude
1.	Maharashtra Oil Extraction, MIDC Nandurbar (Industrial), Station Code: S1	21⁰22’44” N	74⁰ 15’ 28” E
2.	Nandurbar Municipal Corporation, Nandurbar (Commercial), Station Code: S2	21⁰22’4.8” N	74⁰ 14’ 31” E
3.	Dhule Chaufuli, Nandurbar (Residential/ Commercial), Station Code: S3	21⁰21’43” N	74⁰ 15’ 3.6” E

2.2. Sampling methods

2.2.1 Determination of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) (PM10):

The cyclonic low technique respirable dust sampler draws in air from the environment at an average flow rate of 1.0 m³ per minute. Due to the action of centrifugal force, larger non-respirable particles are deposited into a cup located at the base of a conical hopper. Concurrently, particles smaller than 10 μm are allowed to exit through the central opening at the top of the hopper, where they are collected on pre-weighed EPM 2000 filter paper (GF/A 20.3 cm x 25.4 cm). The final concentration of PM10 is determined by calculating the difference in weight of the filter paper before and after sampling, which is then divided by the total volume of air sampled. The resulting PM10 concentration is expressed in micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m³).