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Pollution in Lucknow City and its health implication on exposed vendors, drivers and traffic policemen

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Abstract

In this pilot study, an exposure–response assessment (aged 16 to 60 years, n = 1,012) was carried out related to eye problems due to vehicular fumes during the winter of 2003. Inhalable particles <PM10 and Pb level were monitored at 12 locations of Lucknow using a Respirable Dust Sampler and EPM 2000 filter. The range of PM10 particles varied from 144 to 305, 211–366 and 141–242 μg/m3 while Pb levels were 0.02–0.93, 0.06–0.90 and 0.07–0.77 μg/m3 during 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. The concentrations of PM10 exceeded alarmingly the prescribed standards by a factor of 1.3–3.2. A health survey demonstrated that symptoms were developed such as burning of eyes (in 20 % of drivers, 74.07 % of vendors and 77.47 % of traffic policemen), eye watering (in 51.45 % of drivers, 44 % of vendors and 72.77 % of traffic policemen), constant irritation and redness (in 33.49 % of drivers, 21.29 % of vendors and 26.12 % of traffic policemen) and impaired vision (in 25.01 % of drivers, 20.37 % of vendors and 23.5 % of traffic policemen). The main finding was the prevalence of symptoms of the eyes among the population exposed to automobile fumes.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Monitoring Division, Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR Laboratory), M.G. Road, Lucknow, 226 001, UP, India

    G. C. Kisku, A. H. Khan & S. K. Bhargava

  2. Baylor Institute for Immunology Research, 3434 Live Oak Street, Dallas, TX, 65204, USA

    S. Pradhan

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  1. G. C. Kisku
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  2. S. Pradhan
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  3. A. H. Khan
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  4. S. K. Bhargava
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Correspondence to G. C. Kisku.

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Kisku, G.C., Pradhan, S., Khan, A.H. et al. Pollution in Lucknow City and its health implication on exposed vendors, drivers and traffic policemen. Air Qual Atmos Health 6, 509–515 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-012-0190-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-012-0190-7

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