Chemical composition, mutagenicity, and cytotoxicity of urban submicron particulate matter (PM) in Agra, India.

This study, conducted in Agra, India, examined the mass concentrations, chemical compositions, and seasonal variations of submicron particles (PM). The concentrations of metals, water-soluble inorganic ions (WSIs) including anions (F, Cl, NO₃, SO₄) and cations (Ca, K, Mg, NH₄, Na), organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in PM extract were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES), Ion Chromatography, Thermogravimetric Analysis and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) respectively. For morphological observation of PM particles, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometry (FESEM-EDS) was used.

Impact of ozone pollution on crop yield, human health, and associated economic costs in the Indo-Gangetic plains.

Ozone pollution is a growing problem in many developing countries posing challenges not only to air quality but also affecting agricultural productivity and human well-being. This is the first study in the Indo-Gangetic Plain exploring how the spatial variation and severity of tropospheric ozone affect both wheat yield and all-cause mortality. We estimated that ozone-related cumulative crop production loss for wheat in selected districts of IGP was 3.

Production and characterization of human hair keratin bioplastic films with novel plasticizers.

Since their invention, conventional plastics have contributed in the betterment of the society in numerous ways, nevertheless their deleterious impacts on the natural ecosystems and living creatures is irrefutable. The management of plastic waste generated is a concern worldwide and therefore quest for the plastic alternates or bioplastics is imminent. Here, we explore the suitability of keratin from human hair waste as the candidate for the production of bioplastic films.

Addressing ozone pollution to promote United Nations sustainable development goal 2: Ensuring global food security.

Achieving global food security and ensuring sustainable agriculture, the dual objectives of the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2), necessitate immediate and collaborative efforts from developing and developed nations. The adverse effects of ozone on crop yields have the potential to significantly undermine the United Nations' ambitious target of attaining food security and ending hunger by 2030. This review examines the causes of growing tropospheric ozone, especially in India and China which lead to a substantial reduction in crop yield and forest biomass.

The role of chemical fractionation in risk assessment of toxic metals: a review.

The identification of highly toxic metals like Cd, Ni, Pb, Cr, Co or Cu in ambient particulate matter (PM) has garnered a lot of interest recently. Exposure to toxic metals, including carcinogenic ones, at levels above recommended limits, can significantly affect human health. Prolonged exposure to even trace amounts of toxic or essential metals can also have negative health impacts.

Atmospheric chemistry and cancer risk assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Nitro-PAHs over a semi-arid site in the Indo-Gangetic plain.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Nitro-PAHs were collected over a year at a traffic dominated site in Agra, to determine the dominant partitioning mechanism. During the entire sampling period, total PAHs and Nitro-PAHs were 3465 ± 3802 and 26.1 ± 25.

Severe haze events in the Indo-Gangetic Plain during post-monsoon: Synergetic effect of synoptic meteorology and crop residue burning emission.

In recent years, the frequent occurrence of haze events in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) during crop residue burning period has caused a serious reduction in atmospheric visibility and deteriorated air quality. The present study is carried out to investigate the haze event observed in IGP in Nov 2017 using ground-based observations, satellite data and synoptic meteorology to understand the possible factors responsible for haze formation. PM (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.

Mutagenic and Cancer Risk Estimation of Particulate Bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from the Emission of Different Biomass Fuels.

Smoke samples from combustion of different biomass fuels were analyzed for the particulate bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic nature. Out of 16 priority PAHs, 11 PAHs were detected in the emission of fuels, while the remaining 5 PAHs (chrysene, benzo[]fluoranthene, benzo[]fluoranthene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene, and benzo[,,]perylene) were below the detection limit. The highest emission factor for the sum of all the PAHs was found for coal (353.

Characterization of ambient PM at a suburban site of Agra: chemical composition, sources, health risk and potential cytotoxicity.

The present study was conducted at a University campus of Agra to determine concentrations of crustal and trace elements in submicron mode (PM) particles to reveal sources and detrimental effects of PM-bound metals (Cr, Cd, Mn, Zn, As, Co, Pb, Cu and Ni) in samples collected in the foggy (1 December 2016-17 January 2017) and non-foggy periods (1 April 2016-30 June 2016). Samples were collected twice a week on preweighed quartz fibre filters (QM-A 47 mm) for 24 h using Envirotech APM 577 (flow rate 10 l min). Mass concentration of PM was 135.

First observation-based study on surface O trend in Indo-Gangetic Plain: Assessment of its impact on crop yield.

Tropospheric ozone (O) is an important air pollutant which causes substantial losses in crop production. Increasing O levels in India particularly in Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is a major issue as it is reducing the crop yield. The present study is an attempt to determine the O and its precursor trend using continuous ground-based observations at a suburban site in IGP.

Seasonal and spatial variability of secondary inorganic aerosols in PM at Agra: Source apportionment through receptor models.

The present study was conducted at sub-urban and rural site of Agra. The main aim of this study was to characterize WSII in terms of spatial, seasonal and formation characteristics and identify the major sources responsible for the pollution of WSII in PM particles using different source apportionment models. Since biomass burning is one of the most important sources of PM pollution in Agra, a case study was also conducted at rural site to investigate the contribution of biomass burning from cooking activities using different types of fuels.

Chemical fractionation, bioavailability, and health risks of heavy metals in fine particulate matter at a site in the Indo-Gangetic Plain, India.

In the present study, the distribution and chemical fractionation of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in PM collected at Sikandarpur in Agra from September 2015 to February 2016 were carried out to evaluate their mobility potential, environmental, and human health risk through inhalation. Sequential extraction procedure was applied to partition the heavy metals into four fractions (soluble and exchangeable fraction (F1); carbonates, oxides, and reducible fraction (F2); bound to organic matter, oxidizable, and sulphidic fraction (F3); and residual fraction (F4)) in PM samples. The metals in each fraction were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).

Chemical fractionation of heavy metals in fine particulate matter and their health risk assessment through inhalation exposure pathway.

Samples of PM were collected from an urban area close to a national highway in Agra, India and sequentially extracted into four different fractions: water soluble (F1), reducible (F2), oxidizable (F3) and residual fraction (F4) for chemical fractionation of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb). The metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy in each fraction. The average mass concentration of PM was 93 ± 24 μg m.

Tropospheric ozone enhancement during post-harvest crop-residue fires at two downwind sites of the Indo-Gangetic Plain.

In the present study, surface ozone (O), nitrogen oxides (NO), and carbon monoxide (CO) levels were measured at two sites downwind of fire active region in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP): Agra (27.16° N, 78.08° E) and Delhi (28.

Chemical partitioning of fine particle-bound As, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb and assessment of associated cancer risk due to inhalation, ingestion and dermal exposure.

The bioavailability and human health risks of As, Pb, Ni, Co, Cr and Cd in fine particulate matter (PM) at an urban site on a National highway in Agra, India were investigated. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometer was used for metal analysis in sequentially extracted samples to ascertain the highly mobile, reducible, bioavailable and immobile fractions of the metals. Cancer risk resulting from inhalation, dermal and ingestion exposure to each metal in these fractions was calculated according to US EPA models.

Atmospheric concentrations and gas-particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and nitro-PAHs at Indo-Gangetic sites.

Aerosol samples in the dual-phase (gaseous and particulate) were collected simultaneously for the first time in Agra at a rural and a traffic dominated site during post-monsoon and winter seasons to investigate the gas-particle partitioning of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The samples were collected using a high volume sampler on quartz micro-fiber filter papers and polyurethane foam plugs for particulate and gas phases respectively. The samples were extracted in a mixture of DCM and n-hexane.

Chemical characteristics and mutagenic activity of PM₂.₅ at a site in the Indo-Gangetic plain, India.

Airborne fine particulate matter PM2.5 was collected from May 2010 to December 2012 at Agra, a semi-urban site in north-central India. PM2.

Characterization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in emissions of different mosquito coils.

Emission rates and emission factors of particulate matter and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined in the emissions of three prevalent mosquito coil brands available in the market in India, under controlled conditions in an environmental chamber. The emission rates varied between the brands and ranged between 2.0 ± 1.

Characterization of major pollution events (dust, haze, and two festival events) at Agra, India.

Total suspended particulate (TSP) samples were collected during dust, haze, and two festival events (Holi and Diwali) from February 2009 to June 2010. Pollutant gases (NO2, SO2, and O3) along with the meteorological parameters were also measured during the four pollution events at Agra. The concentration of pollutant gases decreases during dust events (DEs), but the levels of the gases increase during other pollution events indicating the impact of anthropogenic emissions.

Comparison of BTX profiles and their mutagenicity assessment at two sites of Agra, India.

In the present study, the concentrations of three volatile organic compounds (VOCs), namely, acronym for benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) were assessed because of their role in the tropospheric chemistry. Two representative sites, a roadside and a petrol pump, were chosen for sample collection. VOCs were collected using SKC-activated charcoal tubes and SKC personal sampler and characterized by gas chromatograph using flame ionization detector.

Source apportionment of particle bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at an industrial location in Agra, India.

16 U.S. EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were quantified in total suspended ambient particulate matter (TSPM) collected from an industrial site in Agra (India) using gas chromatography.

Assessment of PAH toxicity and mutagenicity in emissions from coal and biofuel combustion.

Emissions from combustion of coal, wood and cowdung cakes in domestic cookstoves were sampled through a Stack Monitor on Glass Fibre thimbles. 16 PAH compounds were quantified in the samples extracted in dichloromethane by Gas Chromatography using FID detector. The toxic potencies of the quantified PAHs were determined by Toxicity Equivalence (TEF) Approach and their mutagenecities were tested by using Ames Plate Incorporation Method.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in ambient air at Agra: distribution and toxicity assessment.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a class of organic pollutants that are commonly found in the environment, largely due to combustion or processing of hydrocarbon fuels. PAHs are considered highly toxic for human beings and several of these compounds are carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. Human exposure to PAHs occurs principally by direct inhalation, ingestion or dermal contact as a result of the widespread presence and persistence of PAHs in the urban environment.

Measurements of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at an industrial site in India.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations were measured in Total Suspended Particulate Matter (TSPM) from December 2005 to August 2006 at Nunhai, an industrial site in Agra (India). Particulate matter samples were collected on glass fibre filters using High Volume Sampler (HVS-430) and were extracted using dichloromethane with ultrasonication and analyzed by GC. Total PAH concentration varies between 0.