SOURCES OF PM10 AND PM2.5 IN HYDERABAD, INDIA

Abstract:

Increasing urbanization, industrialization and motorization has contributed to environmental and human health concerns in Hyderabad, India. In order to effectively reduce these impacts, there is a need to determine the sources of the observed pollutants. To accomplish this goal, an emissions inventory was developed for the primary air pollutants, PM, SO2, and NOx using studies conducted in the past and new activity and survey data for year 2006. Coupling the inventory data with an air pollution model (ATMOS), we estimated the contributions from various source categories to ambient PM levels and estimated the contributions from various source categories to the predicted PM levels.

We found (a) ambient PM10 levels have increased over the last 5 years due to population, vehicular, and industrial growth in the city; (b) vehicular activity contributes significantly (from direct vehicular exhaust and indirect fugitive dust) to increasing PM concentrations; (c) diesel emissions are also of increasing concern (in the form of BC and sulfates); (d) long range transport of effluent gases and particles from industries around the city are also increasing; and (e) waste burning in the residential areas, landfills and along the roadside is a significant source for fine PM. The results were in good agreement with the findings of an ambient source receptor study conducted over three seasons in Hyderabad. Based on these results, an action plan for air pollution control from transport, industrial, and domestic (garbage burning) sectors was prepared and submitted to the Government for consideration.