A REPORT

ON
STATUS OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY AT BARDOWALI

BY SHUBHRA KANTI GOPE

I.D. No.- 20IUT0060056

“Submitted in partial fulfillment of the course requirement of internship

programme for the award of Degree of Bachelor of Science in Chemistry”

AT
TRIPURA STATE POLLUTION CONTROLL BOARD (TSPCB)

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Amitava Sharma

ICFAI UNIVERSITY, TRIPURA.

Faculty of Science and Tecchnology

(29th May – 21st July. 2023)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
With great pleasure, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude and thanks to my parents for the
sincere support they have given me.

I would like to also thank the Lab division of Tripura State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB) for
the care and support they gave me all throughout the training period. I choose this moment to
acknowledge their contribution gratefully for taking part in the useful decision and giving
necessary advice and arrange all facilities to make our training easier.

I again thank my fellow trainees for their good cooperation during the training.

I would like to thank the training and internship coordinators and also the faculty members of the
B.Sc Chemistry department for the good cooperation they had with me during the training
period.

Finally, I would like to thank our HOD Mam Dr. Swarnali Nath Chowdhury and also our co-
ordinator Dr. Amitava Sharma. I would like to thank all the respective members who have
directly or in directly contributed to the successful completion of our training.

Thanking you
 ABSTRACT SHEET

Air quality assessments inform air quality management activities by proving an understanding of
how pollutant sources, emission characteristics, topography and meteorological conditions
contribute to local air quality.

The term air quality refers to the degree to which the air in a particular place is free from
pollutants.

Air quality is influenced by variety of factors and is a complex issue. Depending upon the
process of formation the air pollutants are generally classified as primary and secondary
pollutants. The primary pollutants are directly generated from the sources whereas the secondary
pollutants are produced from the primary pollutants by complex chemical reaction.

The present study initiated to monitor the ambient air quality at an area in West Tripura district
based on air quality parameters such as PM-10, PM-2.5, SO₂ and NO₂.

_____________________ _______________________
Signature of the Student Signature of IP Faculty guide

Introduction to Air and Air quality

Air quality assessments inform air quality management activities by providing an understanding
of how pollutant sources, emission characteristics, topography, and meteorological conditions
contribute to local air quality.

Air quality is influenced by a variety of factors and is a complex issue. The term air quality
refers to the degree to which the air in a particular place is free from pollutants. Air pollutants are
substances present in the atmosphere at concentrations above their normal background levels
which can have a measurable effect on humans, animals and vegetation. AQI values at and
below 100 are generally considered to be satisfactory. When AQI values are above 100, air
quality is considered to be unhealthy, at first for members of populations at greatest risk of a
health effect, then for the entire population as AQI get higher (greater than 150). The AQI is a
nationally uniform color-coded index for reporting and forecasting daily air quality. It is used
report on the most common ambient air pollutants that are regulated under the Clean Air act:
ground-level ozone, particle pollution (PM10 and PM2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen
dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The AQI tells the public how clean or polluted the air is
and how to avoid health effects associated with poor air quality. Air pollution is contamination
of the indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent that modifies
the natural characteristics of the atmosphere. Household combustion devices, motor vehicles,
industrial facilities and forest fires are common sources of air pollution.

Pollutants of major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon monoxide, ozone,
NOx and SOx. Outdoor and indoor pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and is an
important source of morbidity and mortality. From smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the
home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate. The combined effects of ambient
(outdoor) and household pollutants result in increased mortality from chronic and obstructive
pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory health of the population will be, both long
and short term.

Depending upon the process of formation, the air pollutants are generally classified as primary
and secondary pollutants. The primary pollutants are directly generated from the sources whereas
the secondary pollutants are produced from the primary pollutants by complex chemical reaction.

Aims and Objectives

The present study aims to determine the impact of air quality at Bardowali (Commercial area) in
Agartala, Tripura in the month of June 2023 by analyzing particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10),
Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), Sulphur dioxide (SO₂).
The present study initiated with the following objectives:

 To monitor the ambient air quality at an area in West Tripura district based on air
quality parameters such as PM-10, PM-2.5, Sulphur Dioxide (SO₂) and Nitrogen
Dioxide (NO₂) to assess the air pollution load.

 To compare the measured air quality parameters against the ambient air standards and to
assess extent of violation.

 To compare the measured air quality data at various air pollution potential areas of West
Tripura district

 Identification of the probable sources of air pollution in the study areas.

 To propose some mitigation measures to control the air pollution (if any).

 To create the awareness about air pollution and through availability of monitoring data.

Materials and Methodologies

From the present study, a location in West Tripura is selected for air quality monitoring.
Location and information of the sampling site is given in Table-1

TABLE-1
Sl. No. Location Date of Monitoring Area Category

1. Bordowali, Agartala. 16-06-2023 Commercial

1. Sampling duration
Sampling at location was done for 24 hours for the following primary parameters

(i) Respirable Suspended Pariculate Matter (PM-10 and PM2.5).

(ii) Sulphur dioxide

(iii) Nitrogen dioxide.

 2. Sampling methods
The sampling procedures for measurement of PM-10, PM-2.5, NO ₂ and SO ₂
were according to the internationally accepted standard technique through use of
Respirable Dust Sampler manufactured by M/s ENVIROTECH APM 460DXNL, with
gaseous sampling attachments were used for sampling purposes. In the sampler, air borne
particulates are trapped by sucking air through a pre-weighed glass fibre filter paper
(Whatman GF/A) by an electric blower at a high flow rate of 0.8 to 1.2 cubic meters per
minute. The air passing through the filter is monitored by measuring the pressure drop
across an Orifice plate placed between the filer holder and the blower by a calibrated
manometer. A time totalizer records the duration of sampling. The mass of particulates
collected is measured using a balance. The gaseous sampling is performed through an
attachable subsidiary unit by diverting only about 0.4 liters per minute (LPM) of air flow
which is measured by a rotameter. The system is provided with a set of four 35ml
impingers. A gas manifold with separate flow control valves allows independent flow
rates to be set in individual impingers. However, two sets of two impingers in series each
with 20ml of appropriate absorbing solutions are used for sampling SO ₂ and NO ₂.
Generally sampling is done over a period of 24 hours in three shifts each of eight hours
duration. Shift wise monitoring data sheets are used for recording the particulates. The
method of sampling and analysis of NO₂; is as per IS 5182 (Part VI, 1975). However, the
method for sampling and analysis of SO₂ is as per IS 5182 (Part II, 1969).

Results
The findings from the Air Quality Monitoring are shown in the table 2.

Table 2: Ambient Air Quality data (for 24 hours) at Bardowali.

Location PM-10 PM-2.5 SO₂ NO₂

(µg/m³) (µg/m³) (µg/m³) (µg/m³)
 Bordowali
350.9 25.2 9.28 11.5

Discussion
Bardowali area (Commercial)

The average 24 hourly concentrations of PM-10 is 350.9 µg/m³ which is three times beyond the
prescribed standard limit of CPCB, 2009. The concentration of PM 2.5 is 25.2 µg/m³ which is
with in the prescribed standard limit. Concentrations of Sulphur dioxide and Nitrogen dioxide
found at this location were within the prescribed limit.

CONCLUSION
The air quality monitoring is giving the holistic view of air pollutions level in West Tripura
district. The ambient Air Quality Monitoring was assessed and measured at a location in West
Tripura district was selected for quality air monitoring which consist of only Commercial zone.

The air quality data for this location is present in Table-2. From the table it is observed that the
average values of SO₂ and NO₂ were within the prescribed standard value in the sampling
location. The average value of PM-10 was beyond the prescribed standard value but PM-2.5 is
still under the prescribed standard value in the studied location.

Above observation showing that, the commercial area in West Tripura district is having more
PM-10 and PM-2.5 is still under the prescribed standard concentration than the NAAQS
(National Ambient Air Quality Standards), 2009.
From the result, it is evident that for the time being, the ambient air quality at Bardowali,
Agartala is satisfactory for human and environment except respirable suspended particulate
matters (PM-10 and PM- 2.5) which is a matter of grave concern and hence, does need special
attention from the policy makers and all the citizens. For the air maintenance in commercial
areas we can check the smoke emission of the public transport vehicles, for the residential areas
we can assess walking and cycling interventions to minimize the ambient air pollution and raise
importance of green space and health.