Seasonal and Temporal Variations of Criteria Air Pollutants and the Influence of Meteorological Parameters on the Concentration of Pollutants in Ambient Air in Lahore, Pakistan (original) (raw)
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Advances in Environmental Technology, 2020
The present study assessed the impacts of seasonal variation on the atmospheric abundance of gaseous air pollutants (SO2, NO2, O3, CO) and particulates (PM2.5 and PM10) at Gazipur city. The air pollution data was collected from the study area using a Continuous Air Monitoring Station (CAMS) (CAMS-4, Gazipur) of DoE from October 2017 to September 2018. The highest concentrations of air pollutants were found in the winter (PM2.5=208 μg/m3, PM10=300 μg/m3, NO2=45.1 ppb, CO=3.91 ppm, O3=4.17 ppb) as opposed to those of the post-monsoon (PM2.5=133μg/m3, PM10=169 μg/m3, NO2=23.52 ppb, CO=2.25 ppm, O3=7.71 ppb), pre-monsoon (PM2.5=115 μg/m3, PM10=216 μg/m3, NO2=33.5 ppb, CO=1.75 ppm, O3=4.23 ppb), and monsoon (PM2.5=37.5 μg/m3, PM10=85.6 μg/m3, NO2=13.9 ppb, CO=0.84 ppm, O3=4.23 ppb). The highest concentration of five air pollutants (PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, O3)indicated that the higher pollutant load in the winter was associated with large-scale polluted air transported from the brick kiln at a distance of 5-7 km at the sampling site. The wind-rose data analysis indicated that most of the air during the winter season came to the sampling site from the northern part of the Gazipur district, from the brickfield zones. In contrast, a reverse relationship between the rainfall and atmospheric pollution, temperature, and atmospheric pollution load was observed during the pre-monsoon, monsoon, post-monsoon, and winter. This finding revealed that the lowest concentration of air pollutants during monsoon was associated with the washout effect of precipitation on atmospheric pollutants. A moderate correlation (R2=0.58) between CO and O3 pollutants during the study indicated their atmospheric origin by photochemical reactions was associated with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). PM2.5 showed a positive correlation with PM10 (R2=0.84), indicating that both PM2.5 and PM10 were produced from similar pathways of fossil fuel combustion by automobiles and industrial activities. Further, the air quality index (AQI) analysis showed unhealthy atmospheric conditions throughout the year for city dwellers around the study area.
Evaluation of Ambient Air Quality in Lahore, Pakistan
According to air quality standards of NEQS and USEPA, the air quality parameters such as particulate matter (PM ), NO , NO, SO COand their variation in Lahore were evaluated. The concentrations of these pollutants were measured at 19 sites for the period of three months. Results showed that concentration of PM , NO , and NO in the ambient air of Lahore city was much higher in month of June, while it reduced well below the limits of NEQS in July, but still higher than the USEPA ambient air quality standards. The level of SO was found lower than both the NEQS and USEPA standards throughout the study period and the variations in NO and SO level were found significant (P<0.05) in different periods and sites. Furthermore, it was also found that the vehicular and industrial areas were the major contributors as compared to residential/commercial areas.
American Journal of Environmental Sciences
Environmental pollution being fatal for all living organisms is growing adversely due to excessive industrialization and urbanization. Vehicular emissions have aggravated the situation and pose detrimental effects on human health. In this study, the trend of ambient air quality was analyzed in the three metropolitan cities of Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad for a period of three years (2008-2010). Air pollutants, such as NO, NO x , NO 2 and PM 2.5 were recorded usingmobile air quality monitoring stations in the target areas. Results from statistical analysis revealed PM 2.5 with highest levels in all the cities, albeit exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline limits. Spearman correlation revealed that the levels of air pollutants were negatively correlated with the temperature and rainfall, whereas positively correlated with the wind speed. Annual and seasonal variations in the concentrations of the air pollutants was also observed and the highest concentration was recorded in Karachi during the winter season that could be attributed to inversion phenomenon. In addition, the elevated vehicular emissions were observed in Lahore, implied comparatively high air pollution loads, comparison to those of Karachi and Islamabad. The widespread use of low-quality fuel, coupled with a dramatic expansion in the number of vehicles has led to significant air pollution problems, especially in Lahore and Karachi. Therefore, the efficient mass transit system and urban forests should be introduced to abate the ever-increasing levels of organic pollutants and improve the state of ambient air quality in the major cities of Pakistan.
Development of baseline (air quality) data in Pakistan
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 2007
During 2003–2004, SUPARCO, the Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission has conducted a year long baseline air quality study in country’s major urban areas (Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Islamabad and Peshawar). The objective of this study was to establish baseline levels and behavior of airborne pollutants in urban centers with temporal and spatial parameters. This study reveals that the highest concentrations of CO were observed at Quetta (14 ppm) while other pollutants like SO2 (52.5 ppb), NOx (60.75 ppb) and O3 (50 ppb) were higher at Lahore compared to other urban centers like Karachi, Peshawar etc. The maximum particulate (TSP) and PM10 levels were observed at Lahore (996 ug/m3 and 368 ug/m3 respectively), Quetta (778 ug/m3, 298 ug/m3) and in Karachi (410 ug/m3, 302 ug/m3). In all major cities the highest levels were recorded at major intersections and variations were directly correlated with traffic density. These pollutants showed highest levels in summer and spring while lowest were observed in winter and monsoon. A data bank has been generated for future planning and air pollution impact studies.
Journal of Air Pollution and Health, 2019
Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO in Tehran during March 2014-March 2018, and evaluate the effects of holidays and meteorological parameters on the air pollution levels. Materials and methods: Hourly concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO in different air quality monitors of Tehran were acquired. The data from each air quality monitored were validated, and only high-quality monitors were included in this study. Results: The 4-year averages of PM10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO concen-trations were 88.74 (µg/m3), 31.02 (µg/m3), 34.87 (ppb), 71.01 (ppb), 20.04 (ppb), and 3.78 (ppm), respectively. Higher concentrations of PM10 and O3 were observed during summer. In case of PM2.5 and CO, autumn and winter concentrations were higher than those in springer and summer. Lower concen-trations of PM10 and NO2 in Fridays were observed comparing to other days of week. Ozone had high concentrations...
Preliminary monitoring of tropospheric air quality of Lahore City in Pakistan
In this work, we assessed the preliminary air quality parameters including particulate matter (PM 2.5), NO 2 , NO, SO 2, CO of Lahore city in Pakistan. The concentrations of these pollutants were measured at 19 sites for a period of three months. Results showed that concentration of PM 2.5 , NO 2 , and NO in the ambient air of Lahore city was higher in month of June, while it reduced well below the limits of NEQS in July, but still higher than the USEPA ambient air quality standards. The level of SO 2 was found lower than both the NEQS and USEPA standards throughout the study period. Moreover, it was observed that the vehicular and industrial areas were more severely polluted as compared to residential/commercial areas.
Nature, 2020
We investigated temporal variations of ambient air pollutants and the influences of meteorological parameters on their concentrations using a robust method; convergent cross mapping; in Tehran (2012-2017). Tehran citizens were consistently exposed to annual PM 2.5 , PM 10 and no 2 approximately 3.0-4.5, 3.5-4.5 and 1.5-2.5 times higher than the World Health Organization air quality guideline levels during the period. Except for O 3 , all air pollutants demonstrated the lowest and highest concentrations in summertime and wintertime, respectively. The highest O 3 concentrations were found on weekend (weekend effect), whereas other ambient air pollutants had statistically significant (P < 0.05) daily variations in which higher concentrations were observed on weekdays compared to weekend (holiday effect). Hourly O 3 concentration reached its peak at 3.00 p.m., though other air pollutants displayed two peaks; morning and late night. Approximately 45% to 65% of AQI values were in the subcategory of unhealthy for sensitive groups and PM 2.5 was the responsible air pollutant in Tehran. Amongst meteorological factors, temperature was the key influencing factor for PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations, while nebulosity and solar radiation exerted major influences on ambient SO 2 and o 3 concentrations. Additionally, there is a moderate coupling between wind speed and NO 2 and CO concentrations. The constructed Global Exposure Mortality Model by Burnett et al. (2018) estimated that exposure to ambient air pollution in 2015 was approximately responsible for nine million premature deaths globally 1. Ambient air pollution exposure-related health effects mainly occurred in megacities of developing countries because of high ambient air pollutant concentrations 2. Tehran as the capital and most populous city of Iran has faced intense ambient air pollution, particularly criteria air pollutants (PM 10 , PM 2.5 , O 3 , NO 2 , SO 2 and CO), in the last two decades due to unsustainable development of industrialization and urbanization, the ever-growing automotive fleet and their emissions alongside ineffective national ambient air quality standards and Middle Eastern dust storm 3-6. In fact, ambient air pollution in Tehran has become one of the most challenging environmental issues for Iranian central government, authorities, policy-makers, Tehran citizens, national and international researchers 3,7-9. It is estimated that approximately 98% of CO, 75% of PM 2.5 and 46% of NO X are emitted from mobile sources in Tehran 4,10 , confirming the need for appropriate sustainable control policies and regulations against vehicular traffic , such as mandatory applying state-of-the-art technologies to reduce road traffic-related emissions, and more effective and serious implementation of transportation policies 4. Also, energy conversion (e.g. power plants and oil refineries) is responsible for 25% of NO X and 20% of particulate matter emissions 11. Approximately 23% of NO X originated from the household and commercial sectors 11. Furthermore, SO 2 is the only ambient air pollutant dominated by emissions from industrial activities (about 22%), power plants and oil refineries (68%), while the rest of SO 2 emissions comes from mobile sources 10. In urban areas, ambient O 3 is generated via a series of complex photochemical reactions involving solar radiation (SR) and O 3-precursors, e.g., NO X , CO, reactive volatile organic
Geoscience Letters, 2018
Urban air quality has been deteriorating over time. Pollutant distribution levels in the urban environment may be associated with anthropogenic sources and meteorological conditions. The aim of this study is to determine the variation in concentrations of major air pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O 3), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), sulphur dioxide (SO 2) and particulate matter (PM 10), with corresponding seasonal variation in a Malaysian urban environment. Eleven years of data from four selected stations, namely Klang (S1), Petaling Jaya (S2), Shah Alam (S3) and Cheras (S4), were analysed for temporal trend variations (yearly and monthly). Statistical analysis using Openair, an R package open source software, has been conducted to assess pollutants in relation to meteorological conditions. Gas concentrations showed little variation between the study sites apart from NO 2 , which recorded its highest concentrations at an industrial site, between 23 and 40 ppb, and is associated with industrial and vehicle emissions. Pollutants that show seasonal variations and frequently exceed the Malaysia Ambient Air Quality Standard (MAAQS) and the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) are O 3 and PM 10 , predominantly related to the monsoon seasons. High levels of O 3 during the northeast monsoon (January-March) are associated with high levels of the precursors of O 3. The concentration of PM 10 associated with tropical biomass burning during southwest monsoon. Shipping emissions and power stations are main contributors for higher level of SO 2. This study shows regional and local factors contribute to the different type of air pollutant concentrations in urban environment.
Journal of Air Pollution and Health, 2020
Introduction: Hitherto studies have concentrated on the pollution concentra- tion in an ambient environment not putting into cognizance meteorological factors that can determine the fate/trail of the pollutant in the atmosphere. Materials and methods: Accordingly, the study monitored ambient topical air triplicate day-time concentration of NO2, PM10, SO2, H2S and CO using portable digital air pollution detecting device for 30 days in each of the rep- resentative apex months of dry (April) and wet (August) months of 2018 in Kano Metropolis. However, meteorological data were collated from Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet). Results: The result showed pollution concentration for Bompai and Sabon Gari are the highest followed by Dowrawa and school of technology. On the other hand Bompai and Sabon Gari had higher concentration in all pollutants in dry season followed by school of technology and Dowrawa. Furthermore, temperature, relative humidity and precipitation washout or scavengi...