B. R. Gurjar

Preliminary Estimates of Nanoparticle Number Emissions from Road Vehicles in Megacity Delhi and Associated Health Impacts

Rapid urbanisation in developing megacities like Delhi has resulted in an increased number of road vehicles and hence total particle number (ToN) emissions. For the first time, this study presents preliminary estimates of ToN emissions from road vehicles, roadside and ambient ToN concentrations, and exposure related excess deaths in Delhi in current and two future scenarios; business as usual (BAU) and best estimate scenario (BES). Annual ToN emissions are estimated as 1.37 × 10(25) for 2010 which are expected to increase by ∼4 times in 2030-BAU, but to decrease by ∼18 times in 2030-BES. Such reduction is anticipated due to a larger number of compressed natural gas driven vehicles and assumed retrofitting of diesel particulate filters to all diesel vehicles by 2020. Heavy duty vehicles emit the majority (∼65%) of ToN for only ∼4% of total vehicle kilometres traveled in 2010. Their contribution remains dominant under both scenarios in 2030, clearly requiring major mitigation efforts. Roadside and ambient ToN concentrations were up to a factor of 30 and 3 higher to those found in respective European environments. Exposure to ambient ToN concentrations resulted in ∼508, 1888, and 31 deaths per million people in 2010, 2030-BAU and 2030-BES, respectively.

Air pollution health and environmental impacts

Air Pollution: Health and Environmental Concerns, Bhola R. Gurjar, Luisa T. Molina, and C.S.P. Ojha Air Pollution Monitoring and Modeling Air Pollution Monitoring and Source Characterization, Anita Lakhani, Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, and Bhola R. Gurjar Air Pollution Modeling: Theory and Application, C.S.P. Ojha, Marcelo Mena, Sarath Guttikunda, Bhola R. Gurjar, and Wenfang Lei Air Pollution and Health Effects Indoor Air Pollution and Health Effects, Radha Goyal and Mukesh Khare Effects of Indoor Air Pollution from Biomass Fuel Use on Womens Health in India, Twisha Lahiri and Manas Ranjan Ray Health Effects of Urban Air Pollution in India, Manas Ranjan Ray and Twisha Lahiri Air Pollutants Exposure and Health Effects during the MILAGRO-MCMA 2006 Campaign, Horacio Tovalin, Olf Herbarth, Martha P. Sierra-Vargas, Bo Strandberg, Salvador Blanco, Libia Vega, Constantinos Sioutas, Juan Jose Hicks, Ruben Marroquin, Gustavo Acosta, Marco Guarneros, Vicente Hernandez, Elizabeth Estrada-Muniz, Ivonne Ma Olivares, Dora A. Perez, Yessica D. Torres-Ramos, Frank Ulrich, Robyn Hudson, Ernesto Reyes, Tracy Rodriguez, Guillermo Elizondo, and Eliseo Cantellano Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Sources, Distribution, and Health Implications, Nirat Rajput and Anita Lakhani Cellular Mechanisms behind Particulate Matter Air Pollution-Related Health Effects, Ernesto Alfaro-Moreno, Claudia Garcia-Cuellar, Andrea De-Vizcaya-Ruiz, Leonora Rojas-Bracho, and Alvaro R. Osornio-Vargas Health Risk Assessment and Management Emission of Airborne Particulate Matter in Indoor Environments: Exposure and Risk Assessment, Rajasekhar Balasubramanian, See Siao Wei, and Sathrugnan Karthikeyan Estimation of Health Impacts due to PM10 in Major Indian Cities, P. Nema and S.K. Goyal Health Risk Assessment and Management for Air Toxics in Indian Environment, Manju Mohan and Bhola R. Gurjar Air Quality Management: Techniques and Policy Aspects The Economics of Air Pollution: Theories, Valuation Methods, and Policy Aspects, Dilek Demirbas Elements of Air Quality Management: Atmospheric Science Tools for Developing Effective Policy, Jeffrey R. Brook, Michael D. Moran, William Pennell, and Lorraine Craig Environmental Impacts of Air Pollution Assessing Ground-Level Ozone (O3) Impacts to Crops in Parts of Asia and Southern Africa: The Regional Air Pollution in Developing Countries (RAPIDC) Crops Project, L.D. Emberson, P. Buker, M. Engardt, A.M. van Tienhoven, M. Agrawal, M. Zunckel, K. Hicks, H. Pleijel, N.T. Kim Oanh, L.P. Amgain, T. Islam, S.R.A. Shamsi, G.A.D. Perera, G.H.J. Kruger, and P.R. Smit Impacts of Air Pollution on Ecosystem and Human Health: A Sustainability Perspective, Ioan Manuel Ciumasu and Naela Costica Regional and Global Environmental Issues of Air Pollution, Luisa T. Molina and Bhola R. Gurjar Index

Human health risks in national capital territory of Delhi due to air pollution

This study evaluates the human health risks in Indian National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT Delhi) in terms of mortality and morbidity due to air pollution. The spreadsheet model, Risk of Mortality/Morbidity due to Air Pollution (Ri–MAP) was used to evaluate the direct health impacts of various criteria air pollutants present in various districts of NCT Delhi during the period 1991 to 2010. By adopting the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline concentrations for the air pollutants SO2, NO2 and total suspended particles (TSP), concentration–response relationships and a population attributable–risk proportion concept were employed. About 11 394, 3 912, 1 697 and 16 253 excess number of cases of total mortality, cardiovascular mortality, respiratory mortality and hospital admission of COPD respectively were observed for entire NCT Delhi in year 2000. However, within a one decade, in year 2010 these figures became 18 229, 6 374, 2 701 and 26 525. District–wise analysis shows that North West district is having the highest number of mortality and morbidity cases continuously after 2002, moreover least excess number of cases was observed for New Delhi district.

Air Quality in Selected Megacities

Abstract About half of the worlds population now lives in urban areas because of the opportunity for a better quality of life. Many of these urban centers are expanding rapidly, leading to the growth of megacities, which are often defined as metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 10 million inhabitants. These concentrations of people and activity are exerting increasing stress on the natural environment, with impacts at urban, regional and global levels. In recent decades, air pollution has become one of the most important problems of megacities. Initially, the main air pollutants of concern were sulfur compounds, which were generated mostly by burning coal. Today, photochemical smog—induced primarily from traffic, but also from industrial activities, power generation, and solvents—has become the main source of concern for air quality, while sulfur is still a major problem in many cities of the developing world. Air pollution has serious impacts on public health, causes urban and regional haze, and has the potential to contribute significantly to global climate change. Yet, with appropriate planning megacities can efficiently address their air quality problems through measures such as application of new emission control technologies and development of mass transit systems. This review is focused on nine urban centers, chosen as case studies to assess air quality from distinct perspectives: from cities in the industrialized nations to cities in the developing world. This review considers not only megacities, but also urban centers with somewhat smaller populations, for while each city—its problems, resources, and outlook—is unique, the need for a holistic approach to complex environmental problems is the same. There is no single strategy to reduce air pollution in megacities; a mix of policy measures will be needed to improve air quality. Experience shows that strong political will coupled with public dialogue is essential to effectively implement the regulations required to address air quality.

Integrated risk analysis for acute and chronic exposure to toxic chemicals

The traditional practice to assess and evaluate different types of risk in isolation to each other are liable to give erroneous results. Integrated risk assessment is an answer to overcome this problem. This paper presents the cumulative or integrated assessment of acute risk posed by accidental release of hazardous chemical (e.g. chlorine) and chronic risk induced by toxic chemicals (e.g. cadmium, chromium and nickel) present in the ambient environment. The present study has been carried out in a most simplified way to demonstrate and appreciate the broader context of integrated risk analysis (IRA). It has been observed that the inclusion of background risk factors (BRF) in individual risk factors (IRF) related to an industry may significantly alter the siting and planning strategies of that industry.

Climate change modeling, mitigation, and adaptation

Practicing engineers, environmental managers, and government officials will consult this book as an essential guide to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

PM10 and Heavy Metals in Suburban and Rural Atmospheric Environments of Northern India

This study assesses the ambient air concentration of PM10 and heavy metals at six different sites (including three sub-urban and three rural) in Roorkee, India. Monthly measurements were carried out continuously between January and March 2007 at all sites. PM10 concentrations at the rural sites ranged from 37-959 μg∕m 3 compared with 151-422 μg∕m 3 at sub-urban sites. These concentrations were well above the CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi) standards during all sampling months except February. Conversely, lowest PM10 concentration during February was the result of removal of particles by heavy rain before the sampling days. In the case of heavy metals, highest concentrations for Cr, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Al were 2.04, 30, 0.80, 7.13, and 15: 6n g∕m 3 , respectively, at rural sites compared with 0.28, 0.37, and 0:02 ng∕m 3 for Ni, Cu, and Cd, respectively, at an industrial site. Main sources of PM10 and heavy metals at sub-urban sites were road dust, traffic exhaust, tire abrasion, industrial emissions, and oil lubricants use at vehicle-servicing centers. Heavy metals and PM10 at the rural sites originate from coal and wood burning, sugar mill and brick furnace emissions, fertilizers use in farming, agricultural activity, road construction activity, and the dust from long-range transport along with naturally occurring resuspended dust. Among all, wood burning was identified as the most significant source of elevated PM10 concentrations at rural sites. As opposed to the PM10 that remains a concern, concentrations of all heavy metals were found to be far below the standard limits prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). An integrated assessment of air pollution and health risk is believed to be required to be carried out to draw better conclusions about air quality conditions in study areas. DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)HZ.2153-5515.0000101.

Impact of CNG on emissions of PAHs and PCDDs/Fs from the road transport in Delhi

Abstract In this paper we present the first estimates and inventory of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions from mobile sources in megacity Delhi, India for the period 1999–2006. The “COPERT 4” model was used to estimate 23–species of PAHs and 5–congeners of polychlorinated dibenzo–p–dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzo–furans (PCDFs) from the gasoline, diesel, and CNG (compressed natural gas) fuelled vehicles. Our study shows that the total annual emissions of ∑23–PAHs from road transport has increased ~4 times and emissions of Napthalene (Nap) emerged as the most prominent (8 times), whereas a two-fold increase was seen for the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and benzo[a]pyrene equivalence (BaPeq) emissions between 1999 and 2006 from the road transport alone. Further increase in total PCDDs and PCDFs by ~3 times can made air quality even worse. Estimated emission share of low molecular weight PAHs (2–ring) has increased (from 43%–85%), whereas vice-versa for ones with high molecular weights. Switch–over to CNG especially for public transport resulted into an offset of 21% emissions of ∑23–PAHs, 14% in BaP, and 15% in BaPeq for the year 2006. It is also observed that the PAH emissions from CNG fuelled vehicles have decreased, but overall increase in the share of private vehicles (1.5 times) has outweighed this benefit.

A Risk-Based Model to Establish Threshold Planning Quantities of Hazardous Substances

Abstract The Threshold Planning Quantity (TPQ) is the minimum quantity of any hazardous substance stored or processed at an industry that can pose a defined level of risk up to a certain distance from the industrial premises should an accidental release occur. These are recommended by the concerned government departments of the respective countries. Often, concerned regulatory authorities focus on simple screening tools to prescribe TPQs of hazardous chemicals rather than on more detailed technical aspects. This is illustrated with the help of TPQs presently administered in India, which are followed based on Control of Industrial Major Accident Hazard regulations of the United Kingdom. In this paper, the risk ranking matrix (RRM) approach is described to evaluate the recommended TPQs and prescribe these for some extremely hazardous chemicals (EHS) commonly used in industries. The RRM presented here is unique in the sense that various acceptable risk criteria are reviewed to appropriately rank the risk potential and provide suitability criteria in terms of individual risk factors and geosoci-etal risk factors (GSRF). Based on this concept, an attempt has been made to develop a risk-based model to determine the TPQs of various EHS (acrolein, ammonia, chlorine, hydrogen fluoride, and phosgene).

Formulation, application and evaluation of a stack emission model for coal-based power stations

Estimation of coal power plant emissions is a vital step to visualise emission trends with respect to specific policy implementations and technological interventions so that their effectiveness in terms of emission reductions and ambient air quality improvement can be quantitatively assessed. However, research work concerning stack emission estimations specifically for coal power plants in India is limited. To bridge the present gap, we present a plant-specific multi-year and multi-parameter Coal Power Stack Emission Model. This model has been developed to explore current and historical annual stack emissions from a coal-based thermal power plant taking into account essential variables such as coal characteristics, process attributes and control equipment aspects, which can significantly influence the stack emissions. This study concentrates on development of Coal Power Stack Emission model and its application for the estimation of plant and year-specific emission factors and stack emissions for a coal-based power plant at Badarpur, New Delhi, for the period of 2000–2008. The validation of Coal Power Stack Emission model has also been successfully carried out by comparing the trends of percentage change in annual emission estimates and observed ambient air concentrations of total suspended particles, PM10 and sulphur dioxide at two nearby air quality monitoring stations, namely Siri Fort and Nizamuddin.