Air Quality Index and its Possible Impact on Human Health in Industrial Area Gajraula, U.P.

Over the last decades the development of Gajraula as an industrial area has elevated the risk of atmospheric pollution. Thus to know the quality of air, AQI was evaluated and for the purpose PM₁₀, PM_2.5, SO₂ and NO₂ was monitored over a period of monsoon (July to September 2014) and winter season (November to January 2015) at three different Sites i.e. Raunaq Automotive (S1), Indra Chowk (S2) and Town Basti (S3). Results are based on AQI calculator recently launched by CPCB MoEF, New Delhi. The experimental results of air quality index (AQI) obtained from different Sites are 137 at S1, 144 at S2 and 95 at S3 in monsoon and 197 at S1, 268 at S2 and 131 at S3 in winter season. The highest AQI value was obtained from experimental result at Site S2 in winter season while lowest at Site S3 in monsoon season. Elevated concentration of all the pollutants at Site S2 may be due to anthropogenic activities i.e. industrial growth, vehicular density and other developmental works in this area. There are relatively stronger inter- pollutant correlation at the sites and results also suggest that a large number of industrial developments induces high correlation of PM_2.5, PM₁₀, NO₂ and SO₂ at S1 and S2 sites. Human beings are more affected as evidenced in increases in daily hospital admissions in different departments' i.e. Cardiac, Respiratory, Skin and Eye of Gajraula Government Hospital.