ES200 - Module A

Name – Harshit Modi

Roll No – 190100075
1. I am from Thane city in Maharashtra. The air quality is monitored at 3 locations -
Kopri and Shahu (residential) and Raptakos (industrial). Further, the Thane Municipal
Corporation has a continuous air quality monitoring station located at Teen Hath Naka
in the city, which was established in 2016. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board
has also sanctioned 3 more CAAQMS for the city.

The following is the average concentration data of the some of the important
pollutants. This is tabulated along with the NAAQS specified concentrations.

We can see that the concentrations of NO2, PM2.5 and PM10 are much larger than
the standards specified, while the other pollutants are within the limits.

2. A young adult inhales 7.5 litres/minute = 7.5*10-3*60*24*365 = 3942 m3 /year.

Concentration of PM10 in Thane city = 204.84 μg/m³
Concentration of PM2.5 in Thane city = 67 μg/m³
Total mass of PM2.5 inhaled by an adult in 1 year = 67*3942 = 0.264114 g
Total mass of PM10 inhaled by an adult in 1 year = 204.84*3942 = 0.807479 g

Assuming particles occupy whole space, spherical and with density of 1.65*106 g/m3
(density is generally between 1-2 Mg/m3 ), we can find the mass of PM2.5 (radius 2.5
μm) and PM10 (radius 10 μm).

Mass of 1 PM2.5 particle = 13.498*10-12 g

Mass of 1 PM10 particle = 863.936*10-12 g

Thus, the number of particles will be the total mass divided by the mass of 1 particle.
Number of PM2.5 particles = 1.9566*1010
Number of PM10 particles = 9.3465*108

Interpretation: This amount of PM inhaled is deadly and can reach our lungs via the
respiratory tract. It can cause short term effects like nose and throat irritation,
 coughing and sneezing. It may also lead to diseases like asthma, infertility, cancer,
heart attack or even premature death.

3. Thane currently has a poor air quality index of 241. The city is undergoing rapid
urbanization in transportation and construction due to its closeness to Mumbai. Due to
rapid increase in population, there has been a growth in the number of vehicles, which
is almost double the count in 2015. Thus, vehicular pollution contributes to be the
major source of air pollution. On an average, the concentration of PM10 has
drastically increased annually, from around 74 µg/m3 in 2017-18 to 151 µg/m3 in
2020-21, owning to the large amount of dust due to industrial and construction
activities related to housing, roads and the new metro project.

The north western winds affect the pollution scheme in Mumbai a lot. Pollutants from
Industries and BARC in Navi Mumbai are carried by the north western winds which
increases pollution. Also, the rainfall pattern in Mumbai over the last 15 years has
changed a lot affecting the wind currents and pollution. Further, the oceanic winds
used to reduce the air pollution earlier, by blowing away dust and other pollutants.
The situation has changed today with calmer winds, leading to more accumulation of
these pollutants. This has also led to an overall decrease in the precipitation, from
334.2mm in 2010 to 242.2mm in 2020.

4. i. Air quality monitoring stations: To keep a check of oxides of carbon, sulphur and
nitrogen, ozone, particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), temperature, heat stress,
humidity, etc.
ii. Low-cost monitoring sensors measure ambient air quality based on light
scattering technology using much smaller equipment as compared to existing air
quality measuring technology (CAAQMS). These have been installed and are
proposed to be scaled based on their reliability.
iii. Perfect pollucon services, Thane provide customized air monitoring services as
per client needs

Major sources and their contributions:

 Vehicular pollution (60%)
Industrial Activities (25%)
Natural dust and combustion (10%)

Ref: https://www.mpcb.gov.in/sites/default/files/focus-area-reports-
documents/Thane_ESR.pdf THANE PALIKA_English (mahenvis.nic.in)

5. Air pollution stages:

1. Source Control: controlling the sources of air pollution
2. Air Quality Regulation: timely directives must be given to the vehicle owners,
industries etc.
3. Pollution Control strategies: to capture and eliminate particulate matter and other
gaseous pollutants
It is observed that PM2.5 and PM10 are abnormally higher in concentration. So, they
must be targeted first. Major sources of these pollutants are from industrial wastes,
domestic fuel burning and vehicles.
Source Control Measures:
1. Scrapping out older vehicles and machines from industries
2. Promoting the usage of CNGs for vehicles
Air Quality Regulation:
1. Regular checks of vehicle PUCs
2. Regulating the waste and its burning in dump yards
Control Strategies
1. Wet Electrostatic Scrubber and Precipitator
2. HEPA filter
These have high efficiency to remove PM2.5 and PM10 and thus can be proven
economical.
Other measures which I would take are as follows:
i. Awareness campaigns for air pollution, vehicle maintenance and promoting
use of public transport to reduce individual vehicle ownership
ii. Stop vehicle parking at non designated areas, road widening plans and
infrastructure to prevent traffic congestion.
iii. Setting up of industrial permits and ensuring proper compliance, else strict
action
iv. Increasing tree plantations along roads and highways
v. Enforcing construction demolition norms and promoting better construction
practices for reducing PM content.