Ambient Air Quality Status in Uttarakhand (India): A Case Study of Haridwar And Dehradun Using Air Quality Index

This paper examines the significant differences in seasonal variations of air pollutants concentrations at urban, industrial, commercial and agricultural areas of Uttarakhand. PM10 (RSPM), suspended particulate matter (SPM), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) were collected over four sites in Haridwar and Dehradun Valley, Uttarakhand. The first one, Shivalik Nagar, Haridwar is an urban area. The second site SIDCUL, which is one of the most industrial areas of Haridwar. The third site is famous Clock Tower of Dehradun Valley, one of the busiest commercial centres. The fourth site was an agricultural area where pollution level was very low, considered as a control site. The present study deals with the effect of industrialization, urbanization and automobile emission on ambient air quality in Haridwar and Dehradun City. Meteorological parameters like temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and rainfall were also recorded simultaneously during the sampling period. Monthly and seasonal variation of these pollutants have been observed and recorded. The annual average and range values have also been calculated. It has been observed that the concentrations of the pollutants are high in winter in comparison to the summer or the monsoon seasons. In the present study, it was noticed that the SPM and PM10 levels at all selected sites (excluding Roshnabad) exceeds the prescribed limits as stipulated by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) New Delhi, India. Apart from this the SO2 and NOx levels in residential, industrial and commercial areas remain under prescribed limits of CPCB. [Journal of American Science 2010; 6(9):565-574]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).