Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Assessment of the Status of Urban Air pollution And Its Impact on Human Health in the City of Kolkata

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Air pollution has significant effects on exacerbation of asthma, allergy and other respiratory diseases. Like many other magacities in the world the ambient air quality of Kolkata is also being deteriorated day by day. Automobile exhausts and certain industrial pollutants produce O3 by photochemical reactions. The particulate matter, particularly less than 10 μ in size, can pass through the natural protective mechanism of human respiratory system and plays an important role in genesis and augmentation of allergic disorders. Sources of air pollution in the area and the unique problem arising out of the emission from the vehicles, industries, etc. have been described. Ambient air quality was monitored along with micrometeorological data and the results are discussed. The status of air pollution in the area has been evaluated and a questionnaire survey was conducted to estimate the allergic symptoms and exposure to assess the respiratory disorders. The data are analysed to evaluate the critical situation arising out of the emission of air pollutants and the impact on human health due to respirable diseases (RDs) to middle class sub-population (activity-wise) in the area are assessed. A strategic air quality management plan has been proposed. For the mitigation of air pollution problems in the city, the different measures to be adopted to maintain the balance between sustainable development and environmental management have been discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andrews, A. W., Thibault, L. H. and Lijisky, W.: 1978, ‘The relationship between carcinogenicity and mutagenicity of polynuclear hydrocarbons’, Mutat. Res. 51, 311–318.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Anon.: 1980, ‘Auto emissions control faces a new challenge’, Chem. Eng. News 17.

  • Anon.: 1995, Diesel Exhausts a Critical Analysis of Emissions, Exposure and Health Effects, Health Effect Institute, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon.: 1996, Air Quality Monitoring in Calcutta During the Period October 1995 to October 1996, West Bengal Pollution Control Board, pp. 1–11.

  • Anon.: 1997a, Monitoring of Human Exposure to Air Pollution in Highly Industrial Area, Central Pollution Control Board, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon.: 1997b, Motor Vehicle Facts and Figures, American Automobile Manufacturers Association, Detroit, Michigan.

    Google Scholar 

  • APHA: 1977, Methods of Air Sampling and Analysis, 2nd ed., APHA, Washington.

  • Arruda, L. K., Mann, B. J. and Chapman, M. D.: 1992, ‘Selective expression of a major allergen and cytotoxin aspergillus fumigates’, J. Immunol. 149, 3554–3559.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Banerjee, S. K., Dhar, R. K. and Ghose, M. K.: 1996, ‘Air pollution due to coal washery projects and its abatement measures’, Environ. Manag. 20(2), 235–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Binder, R. E., Mitchell, C. A., Hosein, H. R. and Bouhyus, A.: 1976, ‘Importance of the indoor environment in the air pollution exposure’, Arc. Environ. Health 31, 277–279.

    Google Scholar 

  • Boeck, R. L.: 1980, ‘Lead poisoning in children’, Anal. Chem. 58, 274-A.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonai, S., Magnini, L., Rotiorti, G., et al.: 1994, ‘Genetic and environmental factors in changing the incidence of allergy’, J. Allergy 49, 6–14.

    Google Scholar 

  • Calvert, J. G., Haywood, J. B., Sawyer, R. F. and Seinfeld, J. H.: 1993, ‘Achieving acceptable air quality: Some reflections on controlling vehicle emissions’, Science 261, 37–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Canter, L. W.: 1977, Environmental Impact Assessment, McGraw-Hill, New York, p. 27.

    Google Scholar 

  • David, B. P.: 1995, ‘The effect of air pollution in asthma and respiratory allergy –an American experience’, J. Allergy Chem. Immunol. 8, 19–23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, G. C.: 1998, Transportation Energy Data Book, Edition 18, ORNL-6941, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

  • Dennis, R. O.: 1996, ‘Environment factors versus genetic determinants of childhood inhalant allergies’, J. Allergy 86, 279–287.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferguson, J. E.: 1990, The Heavy Element Chemistry: Environmental Impact and Health Effects, Pergamon Press, New York, p. 150.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernandes, L.: 1995, ‘Anacardium occidentals pollen allergy in patients with allergic bronchial asthma’, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 95, 501–504.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ghose, M. K.: 1989, ‘Pollution due to air borne dust particles in coal mining, its monitoring and abatement measures’, Minetech 10(1), 91–95.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghose, M. K. and Banerjee, S. K.: 1995, ‘Status of air pollution caused by coal washery project in India’, Environ. Monit. Assess. 38, 97–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghose, M. K. and Majee, S. R.: 2000a, ‘Status of air pollution in Indian opencast coal mines’, Minetech 21(2), 48–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghose, M. K. and Majee, S. R.: 2000b, ‘Assessment of impact on air environment due to opencast coal mining –an Indian case study’, Atmos. Environ. 34, 2791–2796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ghose, M. K. and Majee, S. R.: 2001, ‘Air pollution due to coal mining and its control in Indian Context’, J. Sci. Indus. Res. 60, 786–797.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ghose, M. K., Majee, S. R. and Sinha, P. K.: 1999, ‘Monitoring and assessment of impact on air environment due to hard coke plant operation-an Indian case study’, Int. J. Environ. Stud. 56(4), 1–8.

    Google Scholar 

  • Giuseppe, M. C., Francesco, F., et al.: 1993, ‘Effect of environment on atopic status and respiratory disorders in children’, J. Allergy Clin. Immunol. 92, 616–645.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoffman, D. and Winder, E. L.: 1968, Chemical Analysis and Carcinogenic Bioassays of Organic Particulate, pp. 187–247.

  • Indian Express: 1996, Delhi Air Becoming Injurious to Health, Indian Express, 26 August, New Delhi.

  • IS: 5182, Part II: 1969, Indian Standard Methods for the Measurement of Air Quality.

  • IS: 5182, Part IV: 1976, Indian Standard Methods for the Measurement of Air Quality.

  • Karen, E. and Michak, F. W.: 1991, ‘Smoking cessation and acute airway response to ozone’, Arc. Environ. Health 46, 288–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karim, M. and Ohmo, T.: 2000, ‘Air quality planning and empirical model to evaluate SPM concentration’, J. Environ. Eng. December, 1116–1124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kazimuddin, A. and Banerjee, L.: 2000, ‘Fighting for Air’, Down to Earth, July 31.

  • McEnvoy, J. E.: 1990, ‘Lead modeling –a decision making tool’, Sci. Total Environ. 16, 231–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Misra, U. C. and Khandekar, R. N.: 1994, ‘Heavy Metals in Indian Cities in Environmental Levels and Exposure Assessment’, in: T. C. Hutchinson, G. A. Gorban, K. M. Meema (eds), Global Perspectives of Lead, Mercury and Cadmium Cycling in the Environment, Wiley Eastern, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, A., Dey, T. K. and Bhattacharya, A. K.: 1982, ‘Cardiac pathology in classical and marsmic kwashiorkor’, Indian J. Pathol. Microbiol. 25, 207–212.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, A. and Mukherjee, G.: 1998a, ‘Occupational exposure of the traffic personnel of Calcutta to lead and carbon monoxide’, Pollut. Res. 17(4), 359–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, A. and Mukherjee, G.: 1998b, ‘Heath effects of automobile exhaust pollution on the traffic personnel of Calcutta’, Man Environ. Annu. 19, 16–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mukherjee, A. and Mukherjee, G.: 1999, ‘Ventilator function in some school children within Calcutta Metropolitan area’, Man Environ. Annu. 20, 82–84.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neelman, H. L.: 1993, ‘The current status of lead toxicity’, Adv. Paediatrics 40, 125–139.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ostro, B.: 1994, ‘A search for a threshold in the relationship of air pollution to mortality-a reanalysis of data of London mortality’, Environ. Health Persp. 58, 397–399.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schoential, P.: 1964, in: E. Clar (ed), Polycyclic Hydrocarbons, Academic Press, New York, Vol. 1, pp. 487–496.

  • Spengler, J. D. and Dockery, D. W.: 1981, ‘Personal exposure to respirable particulates and sulphates’, J. Air Pollut. Control Assoc. 31, 153–159.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, J. J., Janet, L. and Gilson, D. G.: 1991, ‘The pathobiology of ozone-including damage’, Arc. Environ. Health 46, 80–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Streets, D. G., Heydayat, L., Carmichael, G. R., Arndt, R. L. and Carter, L. D.: 1999, ‘Potential for advanced technology to improve air quality and human health in Shanghai’, Environ. Manage. 23, 279–295.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shukla, N., Trivedi, R. C. and Maitra, J. K.: 1997, Exposure assessment to particulate matter in the middle class sub-population of East Delhi, Energy Environ. Monitor 13, 69–76.

    Google Scholar 

  • TERI: 1995, Health Risk and Cost Effective Interventions for Indoor Air Pollution –A Report, Tata Energy Research Institute, New Delhi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tilak, J.: 1989, ‘Mites and mite allergy as risk factor for asthma’, Ann. Allergy 63, 392–397.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Utell, M., Warren, J. and Sawyer, R. F.: 1998, ‘Public health from auto emissions’, Annu. Rev. Public Health 15, 157–158.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wijetileke, I. and Krunatune, S. A. R.: 1995, Air Quality Management Consideration for Developing Countries, World bank Technical Paper No. 278, Washington, DC, p. 77.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre of Mining Environment, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, 826004, India

    Mrinal K. Ghose

  2. Department of Civil Engineering, Bengal Engineering College, Howrah, 711103, Kolkata, India

    R. Paul & R. K. Banerjee

Authors
  1. Mrinal K. Ghose
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Paul
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. K. Banerjee
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mrinal K. Ghose.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ghose, M.K., Paul, R. & Banerjee, R.K. Assessment of the Status of Urban Air pollution And Its Impact on Human Health in the City of Kolkata. Environ Monit Assess 108, 151–167 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-3965-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-005-3965-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation