Industrial emissions in a coastal region of India: Prediction of impact on air environment

Abstract

Industrial air pollution has assumed a menacing proportion in the developing countries, including India. Its control should not be delayed any more. The economic reforms and subsequent industrial development and growing urbanization will aggregate the problem in coming years. Poor land use planning for industrial development often results in the high concentration of air pollutants in urban centers. This paper discusses the impact of industrial activities on the air environment in a coastal region of India, as a case study. A Gaussian-Plume atmospheric dispersion algorithm has been used to predict the ground level concentration of major pollutants released into the atmosphere due to industrial activities in the region. Typical diurnal variation of Pasquill's stability and mixing height over the Cochin Region were used. Ground level concentrations (GLC) of major pollutants were predicted from as many as 108 point sources from 15 industries located in the region. A roll-back approach was then applied to compute the degree of emission control required to keep the pollution levels within the permissible limits of ambient air quality.