2 research outputs found
Seasonal Transition in PM<sub>10</sub> Exposure and Associated All-Cause Mortality Risks in India
Lack of a consistent PM<sub>10</sub> (particulate matter smaller
than 10 μm) database at high spatial resolution hinders in assessing
the environmental impact of PM<sub>10</sub> in India. Here we propose
an alternate approach to estimate the PM<sub>10</sub> database. Aerosol
extinction coefficients at the surface are calculated from midvisible
aerosol optical depth from MERRA-2 reanalysis data using characteristics
vertical profiles from CALIOP and then are converted to PM<sub>10</sub> mass using aerosol property information and microphysical data.
The retrieved PM<sub>10</sub> are bias-corrected and evaluated (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.85) against coincident ground-based data
maintained under the Central Pollution Control Board network. PM<sub>10</sub> exposure exceeds Indian annual air quality standard in 72.3%
districts. Transition in PM<sub>10</sub> exposure from the monsoon
(Jun–Sep) to postmonsoon season (Oct–Nov) translates
to 1–2% higher all-cause mortality risk over the polluted Indo-Gangetic
Basin (IGB). Mortality risk increases in the central to eastern IGB
and central India and reduces in Delhi national capital region in
the winter (Dec–Feb) relative to the postmonsoon season. Mortality
risk decreases by 0.5–1.8% in most parts of India in the premonsoon
season (Mar–May). Our results quantify the vulnerability in
terms of seasonal transition in all-cause mortality risks due to PM<sub>10</sub> exposure at district level for the first time in India
Assessing Dicofol Concentrations in Air: Retrospective Analysis of Global Atmospheric Passive Sampling Network Samples from Agricultural Sites in India
Risk
assessment of the pesticide dicofol is hampered by the lack
of information about its levels, which is largely attributed to its
instability during instrumental analysis. In this study, dicofol was
assessed in air through a novel approach by tracking the ratio of
the two isomers (<i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′ and <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′) of its stable degradation
product dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP), while considering other potential
precursors. Twenty-three samples were collected using polyurethane
foam (PUF) disk passive air samplers deployed across agricultural,
urban, and rural sites throughout India in 2006 under the Global Atmospheric
Passive Sampling Network. The retrospective analysis focused on agricultural
sites in the Indo-Gangentic Plain region where dicofol is used. Yearly
mean concentrations for <i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′-
and <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-DCBP (breakdown
products of <i>p</i>,<i>p</i>′- and <i>o</i>,<i>p</i>′-dicofol, respectively) were
1.1 and 0.29 ng/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively, for agricultural sites,
1.6 and 0.31 ng/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively, at an urban site, and
0.36 and 0.039 ng/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively, at a background site