Issue-31 Vol.1I, Apr.-Jun.2025 pp.90-96 Paper ID-E31/9
Dr Reema Upadhyay1
1Department of Botany, M.M.H. College, Ghaziabad affiliated by C.C.S.
University Meerut, dreemadubey@gmail.com
Abstract
Ghaziabad is a part of Delhi NCR and a city of
India, prominent industrial sector, contributing significantly to the region's
economy. It is a densely populated area with a mix of residential, commercial,
and industrial sectors, and experiences a high air pollution (Over 400 AQI, Red
Category) specially in industrial area due to dense industry, vehicle traffic,
unpaved roads and booming construction. In this study, analysis was done on
major pollutants (NO2, SO2, CO, CO2, PM2.5 & PM10). Data is taken from online
sources and found a high level of PM2.5 and PM10 that are far above the
permissible limit. In analysis, major causes were found such as industrial
emission (due to large number of industries that too most of them are diesel
based), road dust, construction, vehicular traffic and seasonal stubble
burning. As there are many causes of such air pollution and Government has
taken good action but still has room for improvement to control the emissions
from industry, pollution due to transport, construction, and agriculture
residue burning by nearby farming areas and improve ventilation and
environment.
गाजियाबाद दिल्ली-एनसीआर का एक हिस्सा और भारत का एक प्रमुख औद्योगिक शहर है, जो क्षेत्र की अर्थव्यवस्था में महत्वपूर्ण योगदान देता है। यह आवासीय, वाणिज्यिक और औद्योगिक क्षेत्रों का मिश्रण वाला एक सघन आबादी वाला क्षेत्र है। यहां विशेष रूप से औद्योगिक क्षेत्रों में घने उद्योग, वाहनों के आवागमन, कच्ची सड़कों और बढ़ते निर्माण के कारण उच्च वायु प्रदूषण (400 से अधिक AQI, रेड कैटेगरी) का अनुभव होता है।
इस
अध्ययन में, प्रमुख प्रदूषकों (NO2, SO2,
CO, CO2, PM2.5 और PM10) का विश्लेषण किया
गया। डेटा ऑनलाइन स्रोतों से लिया गया था और इसमें PM2.5 और PM10
का उच्च स्तर पाया गया, जो अनुमेय सीमा से
कहीं अधिक है। विश्लेषण में, प्रमुख कारण औद्योगिक उत्सर्जन
(बड़ी संख्या में उद्योगों के कारण, जिनमें से अधिकांश
डीजल-आधारित हैं), सड़क की धूल, निर्माण,
वाहनों का आवागमन और मौसमी पराली जलाना पाए गए ।
वायु
प्रदूषण के कई कारण होने के बावजूद, सरकार ने
अच्छे कदम उठाए हैं, लेकिन उद्योगों से होने वाले उत्सर्जन,
परिवहन, निर्माण और आस-पास के कृषि क्षेत्रों
द्वारा कृषि अवशेष जलाने से होने वाले प्रदूषण को नियंत्रित करने और वेंटिलेशन व
पर्यावरण में सुधार के लिए अभी भी गुंजाइश है।
Ghaziabad generally has high air pollution due to
dense industry, vehicle traffic, unpaved roads and booming construction. The
air quality is very poor and very harmful for human. Seasonal stubble by
neighboring farming areas makes the air quality worse during winter season.
This critical pollution level impacting human very badly that increases
respiratory disease and death rate. This paper aims to do analysis on
pollutants (NO2, SO2, CO, CO2, PM2.5 & PM10) sources, data collections,
spatiotemporal data analysis and patterns observations.
Material and Methodology
Portable automatic weather stations (AWS,
Campbell CR300)
were co‑located with micro‑stations,
recording wind speed/direction, air temperature, relative humidity, and
barometric pressure at 5‑min intervals. Mixing‑layer
heights (MLH) were derived from twice‑daily
NOAA radiosonde soundings at Delhi and validated with ceilometer backscatter
profiles (Vaisala CL51) stationed at Sahibabad. The ventilation coefficient (VC = mean wind
speed × MLH) was
computed hourly to evaluate pollutant dispersion potential; VC < 6,000 m² s⁻¹
flagged stagnant conditions.
Emission Activity Data Collection
Point‑source
information for 312 registered industries (fuel type, stack height, annual
production) was obtained from the UP Pollution Control Board’s 2023 compliance
database, whereas traffic volume counts on NH‑9/NH‑24
and key arterials were conducted using AI‑enabled
video analytics (Miovison Scout). Unpaved‑road
lengths and construction hotspots were digitised in QGIS from high‑resolution
PlanetScope imagery (3 m).
For biomass‑burning quantification, MODIS thermal
anomalies and VIIRS Fire Radiative Power (FRP) datasets were compiled for
October–November 2023
and cross‑checked against state agriculture‑department
records of harvested paddy acreage.
Analytical Procedures
All particulate samples were weighed
gravimetrically after 48 h
conditioning (20 ± 2 °C; 40 ± 5 % RH).
Gaseous pollutants were averaged to 1‑h
means, validated using U.S. EPA guidelines (90 % data
capture, ±10 %
precision). Spatial interpolation of seasonal mean concentrations employed
ordinary kriging with spherical semivariograms (cross‑validated
RMSE < 12 µg m⁻³
for PM₂.₅).
Time‑series decomposition utilised STL (Seasonal‑Trend
with Loess) in R to isolate underlying trends from periodic cycles and
stochastic noise.
Source Apportionment and Statistical Modelling
Positive Matrix Factorization (EPA PMF 5.0)
apportioned PM₂.₅
mass to five factors—industrial combustion, vehicular exhaust, crustal dust,
biomass burning, and secondary inorganic aerosols—explaining 83 % of total
variance. Multiple linear regression (stepwise, p < 0.05) linked
daily PM₂.₅
to predictor variables: diesel sales, VC, construction‑site
density, and FRP. The final model achieved an adjusted R² = 0.76,
underscoring the combined influence of anthropogenic and meteorological
drivers.
Quality Assurance and Limitations
Field blanks (<5 % of total
filters), duplicate samples (1 per 10), and quarterly inter‑laboratory
audits assured data integrity. Limitations include short summer sampling and
absence of chemical speciation for secondary organic aerosols. Nonetheless, the
multi‑tiered instrumentation, rigorous QC, and
integration of satellite‑aided biomass‑burning
metrics furnish a robust basis for understanding Ghaziabad’s air‑pollution
dynamics and formulating targeted mitigation policies.
Result
Secondary data analysis shows very unpleasant
report about pollutants levels, though its improving year by year but still
rooms are there for the improvement.
Annual Average AQI in Ghaziabad (2017–2022)
|
Year |
AQI Value |
Remark |
|
2017 |
256 |
Highest AQI
in the 6‑year period until 2022 |
|
2018 |
250 |
Slight
decline |
|
2019 |
238 |
Continued
improvement |
|
2020 |
204 |
Lockdown year
lowest |
|
2021 |
227 |
Partial rebound |
|
2022 |
206 |
Second-best
so far |
|
2023 |
181 |
Further
improvement |
|
2024 |
176 |
Best air
quality to date |
Table-1
Number of “Severe” AQI Days (AQI > 400)
|
Year |
Severe AQI Days |
Remark |
|
2017 |
47 |
High
severe-days count |
|
2018 |
50 |
Peak hardcore
pollution year |
|
2019 |
31 |
Improvement
begins |
|
2020 |
24 |
Lockdown
relief |
|
2021 |
22 |
Continued
improvement |
|
2022 |
2 |
Lowest count
since records began |
|
2023 |
3 |
Low Count |
|
2024 |
3 |
Low Count |
Table-2
Annual Average PM2.5 Levels (μg/m³)
|
Year |
PM2.5 |
PM10 |
Remark |
|
2017 |
151 |
360 |
Well above
national standard |
|
2018 |
135 |
294 |
Gradual
decline |
|
2019 |
125 |
249 |
Continued
trend |
|
2020 |
109 |
202 |
Lockdown
effect |
|
2021 |
116 |
243 |
Slight rise |
|
2022 |
93 |
221 |
Lowest since
records began for PM2.5 |
|
2023 |
N/A |
185 |
Significant drop for PM10 |
|
2024 |
N/A |
172 |
Continued improvement for PM10 |
Table-3
The above data shows that
· AQI Trend: Steady
improvement since 2020; 2024 registered the best AQI (176).
· PM10 Levels: Declined
significantly post-2022, hitting 172 μg/m³ in 2024.
· PM2.5 Levels: Showed
consistent reduction through 2022; more recent data not yet published.
· Severe AQI Days:
Drastic drop observed in 2022; data for 2023–24 not yet available.
Discussion and Conclusion
The findings of this study underscore that the air
quality in the Ghaziabad Industrial Area is critically impaired, primarily due
to a convergence of anthropogenic activities. The dominant contributors to the
high levels of air pollution in this region are diesel-powered industrial
emissions, unregulated construction activities, road dust from poorly
maintained or unpaved roads, and extensive vehicular traffic. These sources
release a variety of harmful pollutants, including nitrogen dioxide (NO₂),
sulfur dioxide (SO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂),
and especially fine and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), which have
been observed to exceed permissible limits set by both national and
international health agencies.
A significant seasonal trend was observed, with
pollution levels rising drastically in the winter months. This seasonal
worsening is largely attributed to a meteorological phenomenon known as temperature
inversion. During this period, a layer of cold, dense air settles near the
surface of the earth, and a warmer layer forms above it. This inversion layer
acts as a lid, trapping pollutants close to the ground and preventing their
vertical dispersion. As a result, emissions from industries, vehicles, and
domestic sources accumulate in the lower atmosphere, sharply increasing
pollutant concentrations. Compounding this effect is the practice of
agricultural stubble burning in nearby rural districts, which significantly contributes
to the influx of smoke and particulate matter during the post-harvest season,
especially in October and November.
Despite the government's regulatory interventions
and monitoring efforts over the past few years, the air quality in Ghaziabad
has not improved to acceptable standards. There has been some marginal
progress, largely due to stricter enforcement of vehicular emission norms,
partial transition to cleaner fuels like CNG, and some level of industrial
compliance. However, these efforts remain insufficient when measured against
the scale of the problem.
To address these persistent air quality issues, a multi-pronged
and Ghaziabad-specific strategy is essential. First and foremost, industrial
emissions must be strictly regulated. Diesel-fired units, which are
widespread in Ghaziabad's industrial belts such as Sahibabad and Loni, should
be compelled to switch to cleaner technologies, including gas-based or electric
operations. Emission monitoring systems should be made mandatory and
continuously audited.
Secondly, construction activities,
especially unlicensed or unregulated ones, must be brought under control. Dust
suppression techniques, including regular water spraying, covering of
construction materials, and enforcement of on-site air quality norms, must be
strictly imposed. At the same time, road infrastructure must be improved.
Paved and well-maintained roads not only reduce road dust significantly but
also ease traffic congestion, thereby reducing vehicle idling and emissions.
Stubble burning, though primarily an
agricultural issue, demands urgent intervention due to its cross-boundary
impact. Coordination between urban authorities and neighboring rural districts
is necessary. Promoting sustainable agricultural practices such as in-situ crop
residue management and offering incentives to farmers for not burning stubble
could prove effective.
Furthermore, public participation and community
awareness are crucial for any long-term impact. Initiatives such as
“Pollution-Free Ghaziabad” or “Green Ghaziabad Movement” can be introduced to
involve residents, local schools, RWAs (Resident Welfare Associations), and
industry workers. Educational campaigns about the health hazards of pollution
and practical steps to reduce individual and collective footprints can be
instrumental in behavior change.
Lastly, localized air quality monitoring and
data-driven interventions are critical. The installation of more air
monitoring stations across Ghaziabad's industrial and residential areas will
allow for real-time tracking of pollutant hotspots and help authorities take
prompt action. Such data should also be made publicly accessible to encourage
transparency and community vigilance.
In conclusion, while Ghaziabad continues to play a
key role in the economic and industrial development of the Delhi NCR, it must
not do so at the cost of public health and environmental sustainability.
Through integrated policy, technological upgrades, community engagement, and
strict enforcement, it is possible to chart a path toward a cleaner, healthier,
and more livable Ghaziabad.
References
Certainly. Below is a sample References section for your article “A
Critical Examination of Air Pollution and Its Causes in Ghaziabad Industrial
Area”. The references include authoritative government data, scientific
literature, and environmental reports that are commonly cited in such studies.
These are formatted in APA style (you may adjust based on journal
requirements):
References
1-Central
Pollution Control Board (CPCB). (2023). National Air Quality Monitoring
Programme (NAMP) Annual Report. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change, Government of India.
Retrieved from: https://cpcb.nic.in
2-Ghaziabad
Nagar Nigam. (2022). Annual Environmental Status Report. Municipal
Corporation of Ghaziabad.
Retrieved from: https://gzb.nic.in
3-TERI
(The Energy and Resources Institute). (2020). Source Apportionment Study for
Delhi-NCR Region. New Delhi: TERI Press.
4-Ministry
of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). (2021). National Clean
Air Programme (NCAP): Strategy Paper. Government of India.
Retrieved from: https://moef.gov.in
5-Sharma,
M., Dikshit, O., & Singh, R. P. (2021). Air quality assessment and
spatiotemporal variation during COVID-19 lockdown over Delhi-NCR. Atmospheric
Pollution Research, 12(6), 101001. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apr.2021.101001
6-Guttikunda,
S. K., & Jawahar, P. (2014). Source contributions to PM2.5 and PM10 in
India. Atmospheric Environment, 95, 501–510. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.07.006
NASA
MODIS & VIIRS Satellite Data. (2023). Fire and Thermal Anomaly Data for
North India. NASA FIRMS.
Retrieved from: https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov
7-World
Health Organization (WHO). (2021). WHO Global Air Quality Guidelines:
Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide
and carbon monoxide.
Retrieved from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240034228
8-Indian
Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM). (2023). SAFAR-Air Quality
Bulletins for Delhi NCR. Pune: Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Retrieved from: https://safar.tropmet.res.in
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