Urbanization and its Impact on Ambient Air Quality: A Case Study of Patna Municipal Area

Ambient air quality means the concentration of pollutants suspended in outdoor air. Urban air quality is a big concerned because the large number of people resides in the big cities. Environmental pollution is a common problem in both develop and developing countries. (Ghosh et al 2005). Every year large quantities of toxins waste are discharge into the environment from production of goods, burning of fossils fuels, industries and domestic activities. Sulphur dioxide Nitrogen dioxide and Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) are regarded as major air pollutants in India (Agarwal and Singh 2000). The man-made activities such as combustion of fossil fuels and use of nitrogen fertilizers are the leading producer of hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which finally inter into the environment. The increase concentration of the air pollutants adversely affects the living organisms and also the heat budget of the lower atmosphere (Anusha Pawar et al). Air pollution being a serious threat has led to over 3.7 million premature deaths because of outdoor air pollution and 3.8 million premature deaths because of household air pollution (WHO). Worldwide in 2016 the urban population is mainly exposed to high level of air pollutions increasing metals as well as fine and ultrafine particles from the vehicle emission (Sharma et al 2006). Due to rapid urbanization and our growing needs majority of regions in India especially state capitals have become major centers for commerce and industries. These activities are leading to unplanned growth and hence impose notable adverse impacts on the local and regional air quality (Bihar State Disaster Management Authority Safar 2018). Uncontrolled urbanization skating constructions activities, transportation activities, fossil fuel, combustions in industries, vehicles engines emissions, domestic burning biofuels, disposal practice including open biomass burning, poor road conditions, wind-blown dust from unpaved road side are some of the major pollution source which can be easily located in Patna city. (Sources EMIT) Various health hazardous pollutant enter into the atmosphere including PM10 PM. 2.5, NO2 and SO2, Carbon Di Oxide etcetera which can cause an adverse effect on the human body. These pollutants exceed certain level and shows some negative impact on human health specially children and elder people suffer more by this various infectious pollutant. Patna is the second largest city in the East India after the metropolitan city of Kolkata. In the recent years Patna has recorded the highest level of PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentrations which exceed the NAAQS standard limit. The CPCB report 2012 shows that Patna is the most polluted city in India after Delhi, the survey calculating the PM 2.5 in the state capitals. (Source: CPCB 2012) Ambient air to be 149 ug/m3 in 2016 in 2015 level of PM 10 in Patna was 355 ug/m3 that is three and half time higher than the prescribe limit of 100 m3. The occurrence of high number is due to higher vehicle and industrial emissions and construction activities in the City. (Bihar pollution control board 2018 report)