STUDIES ON THE TRANSPORT RELATED POLLUTANTS IN THE AMBIENT ATMOSPHERE AND THEIR HEALTH IMPACTS ON THE ROAD SIDE VENDERS OF THE INDIAN CITY

Abstract

The present study “on the transport related pollutants in the ambient atmosphere and their health impacts on the road side venders of the Indian city” has been carried out at Punjagutta station. The ambient air quality was measured in this traffic station and the monthly means were recorded. A 24 h cycle of hourly sampling was also carried out to assess the peak hour traffic concentrations of the ambient air quality parameters. The concentrations of Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSPM), Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM), Sulphur Dioxide (SO 2 ), Oxides of Nitrogen (NO x ) and Carbon Monoxide (CO) were monitored and compared with the national standards. The behaviour of the quality parameters of this station was described. It has been well established that the time of exposure and dose of the pollutants were positively correlated. The study included vendors who have been staying in the place for not less than three years. Monthly mean concentrations of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) were highest concentration of 154.16 µg/m 3 at Punjagutta traffic station during the study period. This concentrations have exceeded the prescribed National ambient air quality (NAAQ) standard for RSPM i.e., 100 µg/m 3 .Monthly mean concentrations showed a maximum concentration of 6.49 µg/m 3 of air of SO 2 at Punjagutta. The monthly mean concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NO x ) were recorded at Punjagutta traffic station has shown maximum concentration of 40.16 µg/m 3 . Highest traffic volumes were recorded at Punjagutta station (44,954) The present study revealed that the pulmonary functioning decreased among 61.5% of the roadside vendors and a considerable shift of the COHb levels in the blood to the higher side was observed in subject samples.