Behavior of Atmospheric Air Pollutants during Diwali Fireworks Emission over Western Tropical Semi-Arid and Sub-Urban site, Udaipur, India

Abstract

Abstract Influence of fireworks emissions activity during “The Festival of Lights” or Diwali Episode on the simultaneously measured atmospheric trace gases including suspended materials as air pollutants, i.e., Surface ozone (O3), Nitrogen Oxides (NOX), Carbon monoxide (CO), Particulate Matters of size less than 2.5µm (PM2.5) along with derived sources identification parameters concerning to atmospheric pollution, i.e., angstrom absorption coefficient of Black Carbon aerosol (αabs) and CO/NOx values have been investigated during Diwali and prior as well as in post-Diwali days over Udaipur. From induced ambient air pollution effect during Diwali episode on air pollutant strength and the source discrimination parameters, the following main interesting facts are obtained: (i) a significant amount of enhancement by two to three-time folds in PM2.5 level (peak up to 165 µgm− 3) noticed in Diwali festival day relative to background condition level, i.e., greater than the double value of National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) of PM2.5, (ii) specifically, during after sunset to pre-midnight hours, air pollutants along with their source identification parameters values revealed an enhancement by ~ 1.5 to 3 times more during the festival days relative to their non-festival levels resulting from the impact of extra intense spontaneous fireworks and sparklers emission activities in a coincidence of their period with the peak festival celebration. However, their highest magnitude did not go beyond their healthy prescribed limit values, (iii) only temporal day hour O3 variations showed almost appreciable enhancement (varied from 10 to 68 ppb) in conjunction with a remarkable reduction in NOX (spanned from 20 to 2 ppb) in Diwali period and (v) about 40% enhancement in source discrimination parameters values displayed a clear demonstration of majority source type as bio-mass burning activity in Diwali episode and fossil fuel combustion activity in non-festival days. Results are also explained basis on bringing air pollutants by backward airmass trajectory starting from IGP source to receptor site as regional atmospheric air pollution effect.