Meteorological aspects of atmospheric pollutants in Visakhapatnam

Urban air pollution is rapidly becoming an environmental problem of public concern worldwide. It caninfluence local/regional weather and climate. In the present study, airborne particulate pollutant data were collected for a period of 5 years (2010–2014) at 4 locations in Visakhapatnam, a smart city in Andhra Pradesh a highly industrialized coastal metropolitan city on the East coast of India. The particulate pollutant data collected by the CPCB (Center for Pollution Control Board) with Respirable Dust Samplers (RDSs). The observed Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSPM) concentrations varied from 96.38μg/m³ to 317.25 μg/m³, Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) concentrations varied from 48.83 μg/m³to 152.25 μg/m³, NO₂ concentrations varied from 11.64μg/m³ to 31.28 μg/m³ and SO₂ concentrations varied from 7.12 μg/m³ to 23.51μg/m³. The seasonal and annual average concentrations of the two pollutants were mostly above Indian air quality standards and were generally comparable with those observed in most other Indian urban areas. During this study period, there was a continuous decrease of Particulate pollutant concentrations within VSKP; however, the concentrations were just above the permissible limits set by the CPCB. These RSPM, TSPM, NO₂, SO₂ are compared with meteorological variables such as rainfall, humidity, temperature and wind speed. An air quality Index (AQI) was calculated for all four stations (Gnanapuram, Police Barracks, Panchayat Raj Office and Seethammadhara) for all months. AQI was higher in winter season and lower in monsoon. On the basis of the AQI scale, it is found that the atmospheric environment of Visakhapatnam is moderate to unhealthy for sensitive group range.