ASSESSMENT OF AIR POLLUTION CAUSED BY STONE CRUSHERS AT LALKUAN IN NEW DELHI

Abstract

Topic: Assessment of Air Pollution caused by Stone Crushers at Lal Kuan in New Delhi. Air pollution problem is as old as the origin of human civilization. With the pace of rapid urbanisatiOn and industrialisation, air pollution has proved itself a great health hazard to human being. Some recent episodes like Emission of MIC gas from Union Carbide plant in Bhopal, India (1984) and nuclear explosion in Chernobyl (USSR) (1986) have compelled people to think of air pollution. The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981 has entrusted the Central Pollution Control Board to monitor the ambient air qiiality throughout the country at strategic points. It will help to predict the likely increase in pollution leVels due to industrial and urban growth of the country. Measurement of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the atmos-phere is done by filtration of the ambient air in adequate quantity to give concentration of SPM in microgram per cubic meter (gg/m3). The present work discusses about the inventorisation of stone crushers at Lalkuan which are causing health hazards to the neighbouring people. A high volume sampler has been used to assess the dust emission from the crushers. A Transmission Electron Microscope technique has also been utilized to analyse the dust samples for the size, shape and surface characteristics of the SPM, hence .evaluating the behaviour of the particles. From the study, it hass been observed that the SPM concentration over the Lalkuan area is 2 to 48 times higher than the tolerable limit. SPM concentration decreases with distance•from stone crushers. Itvj Wind speed and temperature have also decreasing effect on SPM concentration whereas humidity has increasing effect on SPM concentration. Transmission electron microscopy has revealed that the particles are from submicronic range upto 68 micron, irregular in shape and having rough surface which may be a potential health hazard causing respiratory problems