A Combined Analysis of Airborne Particulate Pollutants Exposure and its Potential Risk

Abstract

Atmospheric air quality deterioration is the one of the most significant environmental concern both developed and developing countries. In this study ambient air was monitored at regular intervals to assess gradients of air pollutants to evaluate the impact of particulate pollutants on human health. In atmospheric pollution monitoring, sampling is the first part of the study. Sampling of pollutants is especially difficult work and the automated instruments used for this purpose. The study was undertaken at Virudhunagar in Tamilnadu (India) and ambient air was monitored at 3 sites. Levels of particulate pollutants PM10 and PM2.5 were higher during the whole study period with more contribution during summer compared to other seasons. Potential risk to the population was analyzed by collecting data from hospitals and analyzed with particulate pollutant concentrations. Mean values of common respiratory diseases observed in the study area were statistically analyzed and related to particulate pollutant levels. Use of regression and correlation results provides insights to guide in assessing intra-urban air quality impacts. Diseases like asthma(r=0.9) and common cold (r=0.7) showed highest positive correlation with PM10 .And PM2.5 showed significant positive correlation with the mean value of patients suffered from asthma. Taken together with previous studies the study provides additional evidence that long-term exposure to poor air quality is a hazard to the public health. The result indicated that, a need of an effective air pollution control policy keeping in view the detrimental effects of the particulate pollution in the study area.