Ambient air quality of Jammu City: A study with reference to SO₂ and NO₂ contents

Ambient air quality has a significant effect on the existing environment of an area. Like many other cities of the world the ambient air quality of Jammu is also being deteriorated day by day. Therefore the monitoring of the outdoor ambient air quality of Jammu City for the years 2004 and 2005 at selected locations of residential areas, commercial areas and traffic crossings with respect to SO² and NO² has been conducted. Significance increase in the concentration of SO² and NO² has been recorded in the year 2005 as compared to the year 2004, though by and large these has been observed to be within the permissible limits of CPCB except for a traffic crossing (Vikram Chowk, SO² concentration – 232.48 mgl^–1 in 2004 and 325.47 mgl^–1 in 2005). Seasonally, SO² exhibited its low values during postmonsoon period except for a commercial site (Gole Market) and traffic crossing (Rehari Chowk), where the level of SO² observed was 11.16 mgl^–1 in monsoon and 20.26 mgl^–1 in pre-monsoon period. Similarly, NO² also exhibited its low values during post-monsoon period except for Karan Nagar (residential area), Gole Market (commercial area) and Satwari Chowk (traffic crossing), where the level of NO² was observed to be 5.95 mgl^–1, 10.11 mgl^–1, and 18.55 mgl^–1, respectively in pre-monsoon period. The sources of pollutants have also been discussed, t-test have been applied to work out the level of significance of the data at 0.05.