Ambient Air Quality Scenario in and Around Some Areas of South West of Madhya Pradesh, India

Abstract

An attempt to identify the distribution of SPM, SO₂, NO_x and O₃ in Dewas, Pithampur, Nagda, Nayagaon-Khor and Nimbaheda industrial area in South West of Madhya Pradesh, India were identified and monitored with standard protocol. The annual SPM load in the regions ranged between 204-459 μg/m³ at about 1 km and 79-154 μg/m³ at 5 km. As regards SO₂, the annual average is between 5-44 μg/m³ with a minimum concentration in cement zone, i.e., 5 μg/m³ at 1 km in prevailing wind direction. Also, NO_x levels range between 17- 52 μg/m³ and O₃ concentration 9 to 32 μg/m³. But the range of cumulative load of all these pollutants become too high in the host zone of 1-2 km (the industrial pockets), i.e., 218-618 μg/m³ and remains as much as 302 μg/m³ at about 5 km. The results indicated that, though the levels of SPM, SO₂ and NO_x are below the standard limits laid by the Ministry of Environment, for the individual pollutants, but cumulatively the load is considerably high and appears to be detrimental to both flora and fauna of the region.