EVALUATION OF AIR POLLUTION AND POSSIBLE HEALTH EFFECTS BASED ON MEDICAL DATA SURVEY AND AIR QUALITY INDEX

Abstract

Indian urban areas have affected human health, property, and atmosphere by the harmful impact of deteriorating air quality. In the Maharashtra state, a coastal city Ratnagiri is facing upcoming air pollution challenges. The deterioration of air quality is negatively affecting the surrounding atmosphere, people residing in the city, and those who are exposed directly. The present study has observed health and air quality data to identify a relation between air pollution and possible health effects on residing people. The observations were made with the help of medical survey data from 14 nearby clinics and the air quality index (AQI) from the two selected sites in the city area. Air quality monitoring data have showed a raise in SO2, NO2, & PM10 values during a specific months on both the sites (January to May). During these months the gaseous parameters were under the permissible limit except the PM10 (97.92 µg/m3 at Nagar parishad and 87.04 µg/m3 at Sub-Campus). Also, the AQI has shown a minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people with a conclusive satisfactory remark for both sites. Medical survey data have mentioned the increased number of patients with influenza (age >60), and eye/skin irritation (64%) with the possible impact of construction or industrial development. Atmospheric conditions like a cold stable atmosphere and land-sea breeze effect might help the pollutants dilute or disperse in the air. However, this study suggested setting up a programming network to be environmentally aware of normal people. .