Assessment of Air Quality with Respect to Particulate Matter (PM10, PM2.5) in Mining Industrial Areas of Keonjhar District, Odisha, and Its Public Health Implications

Abstract

The incidence of air pollution in industrial and mining areas is a common observed phenomenon worldwide. The detrimental effect of atmospheric pollution specifically PM10, PM2.5 on the health of native population is a major concerning area required to be assessed under serious notion. In this context, this research study has aimed to carry out an assessment of air quality and simultaneously, the resulting impacts on public health of the interviewed local residents from 10 selected sites within the Joda-Barbil mining industrial areas of the Keonjhor district, Odisha, India. The air quality measurement and field study had conducted during 2018–19. The large scale of excavation due to mining operations has led to a substantial volume of particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5) discharge in the atmosphere, which ultimately leads to a decline in air quality and causing health problems among local residents. As per the obtained results, the air quality is within the recommended standard in monsoon, however, it exceeds the recommended standards during the pre-monsoon and post-monsoon seasons respectively. The study also reveals that large number of interviewed people had suffered from various diseases including Asthma, Tuberculosis Bacillus, Pneumoconiosis, etc. mainly because of air pollution. Therefore, appropriate implementation of air pollution curbing policies, usage of modern environment-friendly technologies, may prove to be effective to mitigate the problem in the region.