Source apportionment studies to identify particulate matter from crop residue burning affecting human health

Abstract

Rice and wheat are the major crop in the North-Western part of the country, which generate a large amount of leftover crop residue, intensified with the usage of mechanical combine harvester technology, which is further, subjected to open field crop residue burning. It is a human initiated activity for the purpose of preparing the fields for the next crop quickly and inexpensively. The burning of agricultural residues leads to significant emissions of chemically and radioactively important trace gases such as methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrous oxide (N2O), oxides of Nitrogen (NOX) and Sulphur (SOX) and particulate matter (PM) to the atmosphere. Size, concentration, composition, and toxicity of particulate matter are vital features that greatly affect the possible human health problems related to their exposure. This research provides insight on effects of particulate matter fractions (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1) on lung efficiency of school children and was conducted from September 2014 to December 2015 covering one wheat and two rice crop seasons. The effects on children are more severe than other age groups due to their body structure and constraints. The children are unaware of their surrounding environment and their organs are in development phase. Due to comparatively weaker immune system, even short-term exposure could lead to harmful health effects on children. The study was undertaken at 3 rural sites in the districts of Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Sangrur (Malwa region of Punjab) with no nearby another source except national highway at Fatehgarh Sahib. The monthly average values of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 were about 3 4 times higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) given by Central Pollution Control Board during the crop residue burning periods. The MODIS data images of crop residue burning events confirmed the active fire operations over the region.