SIZE CHARACTERISATION OF INDOOR RESPIRABLE DUST IN LOCALITIES OF NORTH DELHI REGION

Abstract

Rapid growth in urbanization, industrialization was proven to be the major source of particulate emission which can cause serious health issues. As an individual spend most of their time in the indoor. This study was conducted to investigate the indoor air quality for presence of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the localities of Rohini, Delhi. This region of Delhi is densely populated and having large number of mini and micro level of industries, high traffic density roads, residential areas, agricultural area, School and hospitals. Rohini, The region was divided in different areas according to the dominant activities like Industrial area, Agricultural area, Institutional area, Residential area, Sensitive area. Dust samples were collected from different areas for the analysis of the particle size present in the indoor environment. Particle size analysis showed the occurrences particle size range between 72±6nm-904±78nm, 77±6nm-904±82nm, 68±7nm-902±97nm, 28±5nm-904±78nm, 15.2±0nm-903.1±96.90nm in Residential area, Institutional area, Sensitive area, Industrial area, and Agricultural area respectively. Observed result also showed the Average presence of ultrafine particle was in order Institutional > Residential > Agricultural > Sensitive > Industrial. Weighted average of particle size showed the dominance of fine particles with the range between 483-902nm, 259-757nm, 665-902nm, 471-707nm and 296-903nm in residential, institutional, sensitive, industrial and agricultural area respectively. From the Average of weighted particle size it was found that major occurrence of particles of size 666nm, 596nm, 745nm, 615nm and 618nm in residential, institutional, sensitive, industrial and agriculture area respectively. It was concluded that the surrounding activities like Construct and Demolition, Traffic, indoor activities and Swabbing associated near the study areas could be the possible reasons for the occurrences of fine and ultrafine particles.