Study and Field Assessment of PM2.5 Air Quality in Palghar, Maharashtra

Abstract

Field data on fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in semi-urban regions in India are limited owing to the lack of 24-hour air quality monitoring systems. This study measured PM2.5 concentrations at thirteen monitoring sites in Palghar, Maharashtra, using a portable PM2.5 optical sensor. The selected locations have different land-use categories, including transportation areas, commercial sectors, healthcare facilities, residential areas, open grounds, and a semi-rural site. Measurements were conducted over three non-consecutive days to capture the short-term variations. The recorded PM2.5 concentrations showed significant variations, with values exceeding both the World Health Organization (WHO) guideline (15µg/m³) and Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit (60µg/m³). The highest concentrations were observed at locations with high traffic, such as Palghar Railway Station and Palghar Rickshaw Stand, because of vehicular emissions and human activity. Relatively lower concentrations were recorded in semi-rural areas such as Devkhope, although occasional increases in PM2.5 levels were caused by the dispersion of regional pollutants. The findings indicate that vehicular emissions, road dust resuspension, and localized commercial activities are the primary contributors to PM2.5 pollution in this area. This study provides a basic idea of the AQI (PM2.5) for Palghar, indicating the urgent need for 24-hours AQI monitoring systems and targeted mitigation strategies, including traffic management and dust control measures, to improve air quality in developing semi-urban regions.