In situ measurement and management of soil, air, noise and water pollution in and around the Limestone mining area of Yerraguntla, YSR kadapa, Andhra Pradesh, India for the sustainable development

Abstract

For emerging countries, mining has been a vital factor in employment, economic development, infrastructure, and supply of essential raw materials for Nation’s Gross domestic product (GDP) growth. The Limestone mine industry is serving as a viable route for economic transformation in India. Limestone exploration causes major damage to the environment at Yerraguntla industrial zone, YSR Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh, India. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the environmental Pollution parameter that causes Air, Water, Noise, and Soil pollution in and around limestone quarries started in the early 1984. The present study estimated Air Quality Index (AQI) as 76 based on the air quality sub-index approach using four pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, SO2, NOx) for a period of 24 hrs by taking one sample per hour during the post monsoon. Water Quality Index (WQI) obtained as 303.91 from fourteen physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, fluoride, Total alkalinity etc.) measured from water samples. Soil quality was determined using four physicochemical parameters (pH, EC, WHC, Calcium and Magnesium) from the soil samples collected from ten sampling stations. The obtained pH range was (7.6 to 9.4), EC of the soil was determined as 4,140 µs/cm, the water retention capacity of the soil, ranges from (17.68 to 97.68) %, and the Calcium (Ca2+) and Magnesium (Mg2+) ranged from 74.5 to 272.75 mEq/L. Noise levels were determined as 76.64 dB in the mine’s, 58.16 dB in the cement industry, and 52.285 dB in the mine surrounding villages. This study can help mining sector management’s in developing a sustainable Environmental Management frame work to meet the world sustainable development goals (SDGs).