Current World Environment

Particulate matter pollution in the metropolis has become an international concern because of its dangerous short and long-term effects on humans and the environment. This research aims to quantify particulate matter's severe impact on inhabitants and identify the ecological environment risk category of Kota city, Rajasthan (India), throughout the selected study period from 2018 to 2022 for four years. Human health risk assessment has been assessed through AirQ+ software (WHO invented), while ecological hazard risk categories were recognised through risk quotient (RQ). The present scenario of particulate matter concentration is compared with standards given by different regulating agencies (WHO, USEPA, and Indian NAAQS) to verify particulate matter pollution. The current particulate matter concentration levels of Kota city are also compared with different regional cities of Rajasthan (India), namely, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Pali, Alwar, and Jodhpur. The dust ratio (PM2.5/PM10) is computed for Kota and regional cities to validate the increasing levels of fine particulates than the larger ones. The four-year average concentration of PM10 and PM2.5 were 121 and 58 µg/m3, respectively, with a dust ratio of 0.48. Particulate matter concentrations (PM10 and PM2.5) are violating the standards set by environmental agencies during the study period. The mean risk quotient (RQ) is 2.02 for PM10 and 1.43 for PM2.5, which implies a high-risk hazard category (RQ > 1) in the ecological environment of Kota city. The mortality cases evaluated from AirQ+ software were 5024 for all natural causes, 885 for lung cancer, 272 for acute lower respiratory infection, 464 for COPD, 2060 for IHD, and 1880 for stroke. The number of hospital admissions was 1485 for respiratory disease, 58 for cardiovascular disease, and 784 for adult mortality (30+ years) to PM2.5. Chronic bronchitis incidence in adults was 14469, postneonatal infant mortality was 355816, and the prevalence of bronchitis in children was 767 due to PM10 exposure for a long time, while asthma symptoms in asthmatic children were 349 due to exposure for a short time. The results of this study are terrifying, and it is an earlier sign to government representatives and stakeholders to implement the new policies and technologies to curb the pollution level originating from particulate matter; otherwise, impacts on the environment become more acute.

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