Major Air Pollutant (PM2.5 and PM10) Hot Spot in Anand Vihar (Delhi) and Its Impact during 2020-2024

Resumen

The primary importance of the current study is to examine the trend of major particle air pollutants (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) in Anand Vihar (Delhi) from January 2020 to December 2024. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) provides daily statistics on pollutants, and each season's monthly average pollutants, including PM_2.5, PM₁₀, and PM_2.5/PM₁₀, are computed. The pollutant concentrations are considered based on climatic and topographic parameters. The current study analyses pollutant intensity from the results of various techniques such as Pearson correlation coefficient, statistical analysis, and wind-rose diagram. The PM_2.5 varies from 8 - 556 μg/m³, with the lowest level recorded in July 2024 and the highest in November 2020. The PM₁₀ varies from 16 - 838μg/m³, with the lowest level in August 2020 and the highest in November 2024. The current study recorded high PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ pollutants in Anand Vihar (Delhi) during the winter season and the results represent that the high mass concentrations in winter surpass the NAAQS limit. The Pearson correlation coefficient between PMs from 2020 to 2024 is much lower in the summer than in the winter, which may suggest that the main causes of air pollution are emissions from vehicles. The abrupt fall in pollutant (PM₁₀) concentration in August 2020 was most likely caused by the ongoing pandemic, and the subsequent fall is due to the ongoing post-pandemic scenario. According to Wind-Rose diagram it can be observed that elevated wind speeds improve dispersion and dilution, but they can also contribute dust particles and raise pollution levels, particularly during the winter season. The drastic change in PM_2.5/PM₁₀ revealed that the cumulative effect of relative humidity was greater in PM_2.5 than in PM₁₀ (winter season). It can be observed that adult mortality is varying more or less during 2020-2023 but it is very high in 2024 due to abrupt increase of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentration in Anand Vihar (Delhi).