Source profiling of air pollution and its association with acute respiratory infections in the Himalayan-bound region of India

Abstract

The studies related to air pollution and its association with human health over the mountainous region are of utmost importance, and are sparse especially over the Himalayan region of India. This study gives an understanding of increase in the occurrence of respiratory diseases due to the accumulation of pollutants during winter season in the Himalayan region (Kashmir valley). The linkages between various atmospheric variables and clinically validated data have been done using various datasets procured from the satellite, model reanalysis and surface observations. Monthly managed data from 2013-2017 for upper and lower respiratory tract infections is obtained from the Ministry of health, Government of India. Aerosol optical depth, air temperature, and wind speed are signi cantly related (p <0.001) to the incidence of acute respiratory infections with its peak during winter. Model derived particulate matters having aerodynamic diameters less than 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) shows high contribution of black carbon, organic carbon and sulphate during winter. This is mainly due to the burning of biomass and biofuels (both indoor and outdoor) with low planetary boundary layer height, accumulating high air pollution and deteriorating air quality during winter months that affects the respiratory health of the habitants. The wind roses generated shows the passage of winds from western side of the region surrounded by Pir panjal Himalayan sub division. Concentrated weighted trajectory analysis has shown that most of the winds coming from the western side are taking southward direction before reaching the study area and may be bringing pollutants from Indo-Gangetic Plain. Our study shows that the accumulation of pollutants in the Himalayan valley is owing to the meteorological stability with signi cant emissions from burning of biomass and biofuels during winter season, that signi cantly correlated with the incidence of acute respiratory infections in the region.

Nanofibrous Mats for Particulate Matter Filtration

“…22 PM 2.5 can pass through the human body through breathing (inhalation and exhalation) and accumulates in the lungs or trachea, causing severe hazard to human health. A significant number of epidemiological studies have shown that long-term exposure to PM 2.5 can result in respiratory problems, 24 cardiovascular diseases, and lung irritation, hence, the rise in morbidity and mortality. Exposure to PM can cause blood clot, 25 which may eventually lead to heart attack.…”

Surface Radiative Forcing as a Climate-Change Indicator in North India due to the Combined Effects of Dust and Biomass Burning

“…The current analysis showed a significant effect of fire events (i.e. forest or agricultural fires) over northern India and the Himalayan foothills during mid-March-April 2021 [7,66], which significantly affect aerosol loading over the region, the formation of atmospheric brown clouds, and haze conditions and significantly attenuated levels of GHI [67][68][69].…”

“…The shallower boundary layer in January implies that PM 2.5 is concentrated close to the source regions and near the surface. With the increase in boundary layer height in spring, aerosols disperse to higher altitudes and can uplift up to the Himalayan range [66], leading to lower concentrations near the surface. Figure A4 shows the cross-section of PM 2.5 and horizontal wind through Nainital, along a constant latitude of 29.4 • N between 70 • E and 90 • E. The vertical distribution of air pollution was also investigated with the CALIPSO Li-DAR observations, which provide the vertical distribution of total attenuated backscatter (TAB) during the CALIPSO nighttime overpass on 5 April 2021 (Figure 8).…”

Impact of Unsustainable Environmental Conditions Due to Vehicular Emissions on Associated Lifetime Cancer Risk in India: A Novel Approach

“…EC has a cancer potency factor equivalent to carcinogenic compounds such as benzo[a]pyrene, and upon being bio-accumulated in the environment it can affect human health [ 26 ]. EC, compared to other particulates, it has smaller size and can penetrate through the walls of the respiratory organs and enter into the blood stream of the body and reach other organs [ 8 , 21 , 22 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ]. Moreover, EC can disturb the autonomic nervous system and, subsequently, increase the susceptibility of the heart to fatal dysrhythmias [ 3 , 9 , 10 , 21 , 22 ].…”