Environmental Monitoring and Assessment (2006) 119: 191–199

DOI: 10.1007/s10661-005-9022-7 
c Springer 2006

AIR POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS OF PM2.5 , PM10 AND NO2

AT AMBIENT AND KERBSITE AND THEIR CORRELATION
IN METRO CITY – MUMBAI

RAKESH KUMAR∗ and ABBA ELIZABETH JOSEPH

National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, 89/B, Dr. A.B. Road, Worli,
Mumbai-18, India
(∗ author for correspondence, e-mail: rakeshmee@rediffmail.com)

(Received 9 April 2005; accepted 22 August 2005)

Abstract. Ambient concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 are of concern with respect to effects on
human health and environment. Increased levels of mortality and morbidity have been associated with
respirable particulate air pollution. In India, it is not yet mandatory to monitor PM2.5 levels therefore
very limited information is available on PM2.5 levels. To understand the fine particle pollution and also
correlate with PM10 which are monitored regularly in compliance with ambient air quality standards.
This study was carried out to monitor PM2.5 , PM10 , and NO2 for about one year in a residential
cum commercial area of Mumbai city with a view to understand their correlation. The average PM2.5
concentration at ambient and Kerbsite was 43 and 69 μg/m3 . The correlation coefficients between
PM2.5 and PM10 at ambient and Kerbsite were 0.83 and 0.85 respectively thus indicating that most of
the PM2.5 and PM10 are from similar sources. TSP, PM10 levels exceeded Central Pollution Control
Board (CPCB) standard during winter season. PM2.5 levels also exceeded 24 hourly average USEPA
standard during winter season indicating unhealthy air quality.

Keywords: Ambient site, Kerbsite, Mumbai, PM2.5 , PM10 , NO2

Introduction

Particulate air pollution is complex mixture of small and large particles of varying
origin and chemical compositions. Particles ranging from 2.5 to 100 μm diameter
usually comprise more of dust from agriculture, construction, road traffic, plant
pollens and other natural sources. Smaller particles with less than 2.5 μm in diam-
eter generally come from combustion of fossil fuel. These particles include soot
from vehicle exhaust and are often coated with various chemical contaminants or
metals. Fine sulphates and nitrate aerosols are formed when SO2 and nitrogen ox-
ides condense in the atmosphere. The large sources of fine particle are coal fired
power plant, fuel combustion in industries, auto and diesel exhaust are predominant
sources along transportation corridor.
Airborne fine particles smaller than 2.5 μm are responsible for haze forma-
tion, visibility reduction and also affect global radiation budget. PM2.5 particles are
known to have adverse impact on health. Increased levels of mortality and morbid-
ity have been associated with respirable particulate air pollution. Epidemiological
192 R. KUMAR AND A. E. JOSEPH

TABLE I
Seasonal average concentration of PM2.5 (μg/m3 )

Season Delhi Kolkatta Mumbai

Spring 114 55 36
Summer 49 26 21
Autumn 159 45 64
Winter 231 305 89
Source. ESMAP, Report 281/04.

studies also find an association between fine particles concentration and increased
human health effects (Pope et al., 1995). Each 10 μg/m3 elevations in fine particu-
late air pollution has been associated with approximately with 4, 6 and 8% increased
risk of all cause, cardio pulmonary and lung cancer mortality respectively (Pope
et al., 2002).
Available air quality data suggest that pollutant of most concern from the point of
view of environmental health risk in South Asia is airborne particulate matter. Aver-
age high values have been recorded for PM10 in various cities in South Asia such as
900 μg/m3 for Lahore; 225, 135 and 126 μg/m3 for core, subcore and remote part of
Nepal. High PM2.5 concentrations have been recorded in Dhaka- Bangladesh (upto
300 μg/m3 ) and moderate levels in Sri Lanka (60 μg/m3 ) (World Bank, 2004a). In
India following levels of PM2.5 (Table I) have been reported (World Bank, 2004b).
As per a study, levels of PM2.5 at several locations at Delhi, India have reported
to be in the range of 78–109 μg/m3 (Agarwal et al., 2002) The mean PM2.5 con-
centration for the background mixed /traffic industrial site in Chennai, India were
35, 46 and 54 μg/m3 respectively and ratio between PM2.5 to PM10 was about 0.5
at all the three sites during 2002–2003 (Rama Krishna et al., 2003).
In India, since it is not yet mandatory to monitor PM2.5 levels therefore limited
information is available on PM2.5 and its correlation with PM10 and other pollutants.
It is therefore, highly desirable to understand the fine particle pollution and also
correlate with PM10 and NO2 which are monitored regularly in compliance with
ambient air quality standards.
Ambient concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 are of concern with respect to ef-
fects on human health and environment. Accurate measurement and monitoring is
essential to increase the understanding of these pollutants. The present study has
made an attempt to monitor PM10 , PM2.5 and NO2 for about one year in a residential
cum commercial city of Mumbai.

Study Area

Mumbai, the commercial and industrial capital of India with a population of about 15
million has been under stress due to increasing urbanization. Though the industrial
 AIR POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS OF PM2.5 , PM10 AND NO2 193

activities have been declining, the city still has 183 air-polluting industries and also
the impact of traffic on the local air quality is highly visible. City has witnessed
tremendous increase in vehicle population with the total of 1123562 vehicles in the
year 2003. The percentage increase from 1983 to 1993 was 66% and from 1993 to
2003 was 50% (Transport Commissioners Office, Mumbai, 2003). Mumbai has a
mean elevation of 11 meters above sea level and is formed of seven islands on the
Konkan coast. It has a tropical savannah climate. The annual average temperature
is 25.3 ◦ C, with a maximum of 34.5 ◦ C in May and minimum of 14.3 ◦ C in January.
Average annual precipitation is 2,078 mm with July having the maximum rainfall.
High pollution concentrations usually occur in the winter when adverse meteoro-
logical situations with weak winds prevail. In the winter the predominant local wind
direction is northerly (NW–NE). In the summer and monsoon seasons, westerly and
southerly winds are predominant. There is always a sea breeze during the day with
mean wind speeds between 1.5–2 m/s. Calm winds occur at night between 22–06 h.
The current ongoing air pollution measurement programmes reveal that the
city is experiencing substantial particulate pollution problem, with frequent and
widespread exceedance of TSP (total suspended particulates) and PM10 air quality
standards (MCGM, 2001). An application of dose response equation to PM10 during
2000 showed 600, 2620, 1440 chronic bronchitis cases at commercial, industrial and
residential areas in Mumbai city (Elizabeth et al., 2003). Annual Total Suspended
Particulate (TSP) and PM10 emissions in Mumbai were estimated to be about 32343
and 16031 tones/year in 1992–1993 (URBAIR, 1996). Road traffic, resuspension of
road dust, wood burning, domestic refuse burning and furnace oil used in industry
were identified as the major largest source of PM emission. Mumbai is amongst one
of three cities of the world with highest level of suspended particulate matter (World
Development Report, 1992). TSP and PM10 levels at sixteen sites in Mumbai city
is given in Table II. TSP emissions from industrial and area sources are 26.82 and
10.77 TPD respectively (NEERI, 2004). Current estimate of PM emissions in the
city shows that industrial emissions still dominates despite high traffic growth as
shown in Figure 1 (BAQ, 2003). Ambient air quality monitoring for PM2.5 , PM10
and NO2 was carried out at Worli (Figure 2). The sampler was placed at 3 m height
above the ground on a rooftop. Worli is a residential cum commercial area and very
close to the coast. Kerbsite was near the traffic junctions of arterial road in Worli
and is influenced by high traffic density with about 78000 vehicles/day (NEERI,
2004). Monitoring was carried out for 3 seasons i.e. summer, monsoon and winter
at ambient and kerbsite from April 2003 to March, 2004.

Methodology

A Caltech-built PM2.5 filter sampler was used to determine the levels of PM2.5 . Fine
particulate matter was collected on one PTFE filter (PALL Life Sciences, 47 mm,
1 μm). The PM2.5 samples were collected on 24 hourly basis from 2 pm to 2 pm.
194 R. KUMAR AND A. E. JOSEPH

TABLE II
Average air quality status of TSP and PM10 at Mumbai (Dec. 2001–Jan. 2002)

TSP PM10
Stations 24 h (Avg) SD 24 h (Avg) SD

Control
Colaba 181 45 78 31
Borivali 207 75 86 34
Kerbsite
Haji Ali 366 142 114 38
Metro 448 132 186 61
Sion 539 97 156 38
Chembur Naka 385 96 138 34
Vile Parle 736 143 315 71
Mulund 504 66 182 42
Ambient Site
Mazgaon Dock 356 87 135 40
Khar 373 76 154 24
Mankhurd 320 118 114 46
Goregaon 249 70 95 38
Andheri 331 110 135 60
Vikhroli 340 94 116 39
Bhandup 343 89 152 59
Ghatkopar 357 87 120 23
∗
All values expressed as (μg/m3 ).
Source. NEERI, 2004, Particulate matter reduction action plan for greater Mumbai.

Figure 1. Contribution of PM emissions in Mumbai.

For collection of the fine particles, ambient air was drawn at a rate of approxi-
mately 22.5 lpm through a glass inlet line to a Teflon-coated AIHL-design cyclone
separator (John, 1980), which removed large particles according to a collection
efficiency curve having a 50% aerodynamic cutoff diameter at 2.5 μm before the
 AIR POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS OF PM2.5 , PM10 AND NO2 195

Figure 2. Study area.

air passed through the fine particle collection filters. The air flow rate through each
filter was measured before and after each 24 hr sampling period with a calibrated
rotameter.
On each of the sampling day and duration of PM2.5 monitoring, ambient PM10
was also monitored on 8 hourly basis for 24 h and collected on 8 × 10 Glass fiber
filter (Whatman GF/A) using Envirotech APM 460 NL Respirable Dust Sampler
(PM10 ) sampler. Glass fiber filters and PTFE filters were equilibrated in desiccators
containing silica gel for 24 h before and after sample collection and weighed on pre-
calibrated Afcoset balance (ER182A) measuring accurately upto 10 μg. NO2 was
monitored on 4 hourly basis for 24 hr using modified Jacobs Hocheiser methodology
(CPCB, 1998).

Result and Discussions

Results of PM2.5 and PM10 during the study period are presented in Figure 3.
Average values of PM2.5 , PM10 and NO2 were 43, 61 and 22 μg/m3 at ambient site
and at Kerbsite it was 69, 90 and 25 μg/m3 respectively. The PM2.5 and PM10 shows
high correlation coefficients of 0.83 and 0.85 for ambient and kerbsite respectively
as shown in Figure 4. The average ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 was 0.68 and 0.70 at both
the locations. An average ratio of about 0.64 during was obtained at ambient site
during 2001 (Kumar et al., 2003). Seasonal profile of the data indicates that there is
a buildup of higher levels of PM during winter season. Though Mumbai’s climate
is highly dominated by coastal wind, the impact is minimal during winter, leading
to higher levels of pollutants. Period of monsoon extends for about four months
(June–September) during which the high wind along with rains bring the particulate
levels down considerably. During winter season, predominant wind direction being
NE, contribution from industrial sites situated in the Eastern suburb of Mumbai
lead to higher PM levels.
196 R. KUMAR AND A. E. JOSEPH

Figure 3. 24 Hourly average concentrations of PM2.5 , PM10 and NO2 during the study period.

Figure 4. Correlation between PM2.5 with PM10 and NO2 .

 AIR POLLUTION CONCENTRATIONS OF PM2.5 , PM10 AND NO2 197

Figure 5. Levels of TSP, PM10 , PM2.5 and NO2 during winter season (study period) at ambient site.

NO2 is emitted from the combustion of fossil fuels as in automobiles and also
from oxidation of NO. Regression analysis carried out for PM2.5 levels and NO2
showed correlation coefficient of 0.85 and 0.84 for ambient and kerbsite locations
respectively. This good correlation indicates that NO2 which is mainly associated
with vehicular pollution and responsible for nitrate aerosols, has same origin as that
of PM2.5 .
During winter season TSP levels were also monitored along with PM10 , PM2.5
and NO2 at ambient site for four days Figure 5 shows that the Central Pollution
Control Board (CPCB) Standard for Mixed /Residential area has been exceeded
for TSP and PM10 . PM2.5 levels also exceeded USEPA PM2.5 standards of 65 (g/m3
during the winter season indicating unhealthy air quality during winter time. NO2
levels were within prescribed limits.
The range of ratio between PM10 and TSP was between 0.27–0.59 and PM2.5 to
PM10 0.61–0.91. This shows that majority of the PM10 comprise of PM2.5 fraction
indicating critical condition during winter. Also, wide variation in the ratio of PM10
and TSP indicate that large scale resuspended dust is responsible for high TSP.
The major sources of air pollution in the vicinity of sampling station in a radius
of about 2.5 kms include vehicles, biomass burning, sewage treatment plant, open
defecation, crematoria and bakery.
A study carried out by NEERI estimated sources of PM10 at four major sites
in Mumbai city. At Colaba, Metro Vile Parle, Mazgaon, auto exhaust percentage
contribution to PM10 was 6, 54, 33, 14%, respectively. Industrial contribution to
PM10 at the above site was 42, 11, 6, 32% respectively. Whereas resuspended dust
percentage contribution was 10, 9, 17, 20% at all the four sites (NEERI, 2004).

Conclusions

PM2.5 , PM10 , NO2 measurements were carried out for one year at two sites in
Mumbai city. Results indicated that on an average, ratio of PM2.5 to PM10 was 0.68
198 R. KUMAR AND A. E. JOSEPH

and 0.70 at ambient and kerbsite respectively. PM2.5 levels during the study period
exceeded USEPA standard of 65 μg/m3 (24 hourly) during winter season. As most
of the city area has very high density of traffic for major parts of the day and night,
the ambient sites are also highly impacted by vehicular emissions, reason why NO2
and PM2.5 correlate strongly even at the ambient site. Strong correlation of PM10
and PM2.5 indicates that major parts of the particles are fine particles being emitted
by fossil fuel combustion. Though fine particulate monitoring indicate high levels,
it is necessary to apportion them for urban and rural situation for brining out the
qualitative differences. This study gives a good idea of relationship between PM2.5
and PM10 . These findings have underlined the importance of ambient particles and
the need of regular monitoring of PM2.5 and PM10 .
Most of the air quality monitoring data for Indian cities gives only Total sus-
pended particulate matter (TSP) and PM10 concentration in ambient air. It is highly
desirable to monitor PM10 and PM2.5 . As per literature PM2.5 levels reported in
Indian are already higher than the levels reported elsewhere, indicating urgency for
initiating action for their monitoring.
PM2.5 in air is responsible for respiratory problems and has several environmen-
tal impacts therefore there is an urgent need to monitor PM2.5 levels and character-
ize. Formation of air quality guidelines are required to evaluate appropriate control
strategies for fine particulate levels reduction.

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to acknowledge, Dr. Zohir Chowdhury, Georgia Institute of

Technology, Dept. of Civil & Environment Engineering for providing PM2.5 sampler
used under this study.

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