Prayagraj: Air Pollution Profile and Policy Recommendations

Air pollution is the fifth leading risk factor behind theworld – wide mortality. Ever growing population size feeding industrial activity through demand channel, vehicular pollution accompanied by rapid urbanization and burning of fossil fuels pose a serious threat to clean air. Some major air pollutants under study in the city of Prayagraj are Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Particulate Matter (PM10) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2). Pollution profile of the city localityi.e. Rambagh, Johnstonganj, Alopibagh, Crossing Mahalakshmi talkies and Bharat Yantra Nigam are studied. PM10 level of exposure is serious in Crossing Mahalakshmi talkiesand Alopibagh area as exposure to very high level in the range of 250 – 400 µg/m3 occurs for the longest duration of time. Alopibagh, Johnstonganj and Rambagh shows critical level of Nitrogen Dioxide indicating higher vehicular movement in these areas. Trend wise, SO2 component has spiked above 12 µg/m3 at Rambagh, Johnstonganj and Alopibagh during the onset of winters season in 2016. Similar phenomenon was seen at Bharat Yantra Nigam and Crossing Mahalakshmi talkies during winter season of 2019. Arrival of monsoon tend to lower pollutants content in the outdoor ambient air quality. Overall air quality is in critical zone at Alopibagh for 45 per cent of the time period followed by Johnstonganj. Crossing Mahalakshmi talkies and Bharat Yantra Nigamshows critical air quality for more than 60 per cent of the time period which calls for urgent action to prevent them from entering the critical zone. Overall air quality of Prayagraj is range bound with air pollutants improve during the monsoon season. However, improvement in air quality has reduced in the last two years as fall in air pollutants is less in 2018 and 2019 monsoon compared to previous two years. The findings of the paper will help the administration, municipal corporation and various stake holders of the city to take targeted measures locality wise towards pollution control depending upon pollutants concentration and exposure area – wise. It will also raise public awareness about pollutant levels in their area.

A preliminary pollution appraisal of western backwater at Karachi Coastal area

This study aims at preliminary analysis of pollution profile of western backwater. The site is very important from the ecological perspective. The mangrove ecosystem of the study area is of prime significance, whilst the study area is receiving heavy pollution load from Lyari River. The water samples were collected from the pre-designated locations and analyzed for physical and biochemical characteristics. The BOD and COD concentrations of the samples were extremely higher from the environmental and ecological viewpoint. The heavy inorganic and organic load is coming from the domestic and industrial effluents coming from Lyari River. Oil and grease concentrations were also extremely higher in all these sites indicating the hampering of natural purification system of water. The concentration of phenol also indicates the emptying of industrial effluent at the Lyari River outfall. The heavy influx of the nutrients in the form of nitrogen and phosphate represents the problem of eutrophication at the study area. Out of all 7 sites, L-7 was most polluted as it was closed to the Lyari River outfall. The extent of pollution is at the following order L-7 > L-5 > L-6 > L-4 > L-3 > L-2 > L-1.