A study on air quality status during diwali festival at bhuj city, kachchh district, gujarat, western India

The present study was conducted in order to understand the impact of crackers and related fireworks usage during diwali festival (Festival of lights) in the ambient air quality status of Bhuj city during October 2014. This was assessed by evaluating the air quality status by measuring the concentrations of various air pollutants such as Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and Respirable Suspended Particulate matter (RSPM) since usage of crackers is found to be the major activity during this particular festival and such firework related activity releases various gaseous and particulate air pollutants and toxic metals in a greater extent. Hence, in the present study, SO2, NO2, SPM and RSPM were estimated at selected residential sites during the day and night on diwali, Pre- Diwali and Post Diwali period. As a whole, it is understand that though the concentration of SO2, NO2, SPM and RSPM was found to be at a higher rate at pre and post diwali period, these specified parameters had recorded significantly higher levels of these concentrations on the day of diwali. On the day of Diwali, the levels of NO2, SO2, SPM and RSPM concentrations in residential area have been recorded as 65.86, 21.06, 311.8, 235 µg/m3 respectively and the concentrations have also recorded higher range when compared with National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). From the present study it is elucidated that the usage of fireworks and bursting crackers were found to be the major factors for such elevated levels of pollutants in the atmosphere during the Diwali festival.