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Assessment of trace metal concentration in the ambient air of the Prayagraj City during Diwali festival—a case study

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Abstract

The study evaluated the particulate matter trend and trace element concentrations, during the Diwali week for two consecutive years, November 2018 and October 2019. Diwali celebrations worsen the city’s air quality from poor to a severe category of air quality index (AQI). A peak rise in PM10 concentration was found on Diwali day, 1.8 times more than a normal day of the same period. The concentration was 5.6-fold more than the permissible limit prescribed by National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), India, and 11.26-fold higher than the permissible limit of World Health Organization (WHO). The more firework bursting in the year 2019 results in the rise of PM10 concentration by 132% compared with the previous year. Lead (Pb), a carcinogen, was found in higher levels, in Diwali samples of year 2019. The average metal concentration on Diwali day was found in the following order: Pb (396.17) > Cu (70.34) > Mn (66.34) > Cr (29.66) > Ni (4.96) in year 2019 while Ni (195.20) > Pb (149.45) > Mn (64.85) > Cu (13.44) in year 2018. A significant positive correlation between Cr and Pb, Cu and Pb, Cr and Cu, and with PM10 have been observed, indicating their emission from a common source and the contribution of firecrackers to particulate pollution. Principal component analysis (PCA) identified the contribution of the bursting of firecrackers and vehicular emissions towards PM10 pollution in the year 2019 and vehicular emissions and dust resuspension in the year 2018 over the megacity Prayagraj.

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Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results has been part of the National Ambient Monitoring Program (NAMP), a project entitled ‘Air quality monitoring at two stations of Allahabad city.’ The authors are thankful to the ‘Central Pollution Control Board’, India, for providing us the opportunity to utilize the air pollution database for carrying out the present study. The authors are also thankful to the Environmental Laboratory, IFFCO Phulpur, Prayagraj for their immense support for the sample analysis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad, 211004, U.P., India

    Namrata Kulshreshtha & R. C. Vaishya

  2. Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, India

    Sachin Kumar

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  1. Namrata Kulshreshtha
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  2. Sachin Kumar
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  3. R. C. Vaishya
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Correspondence to Namrata Kulshreshtha.

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Highlights

• First study of source apportionment of PM10 during Diwali week of Prayagraj city.

• PM10 concentration showed peak rise, violating permissible limit of both NAAQS India and WHO.

• Establishes the supportive role of firecracker bursting along with traffic emissions.

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Kulshreshtha, N., Kumar, S. & Vaishya, R.C. Assessment of trace metal concentration in the ambient air of the Prayagraj City during Diwali festival—a case study. Environ Monit Assess 193, 149 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-021-08932-3

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