Pollution Research Paper

QUANTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CORRELATION BETWEEN TRAFFIC NOISE LEVEL AND CONCENTRATION OF TRAFFIC RELATED AIR POLLUTANT(S) IN THE CURBSIDE OPEN-AIR MICRO-ENVIRONMENT OF KOLKATA CITY, INDIA

ANIRBAN KUNDU CHOWDHURY, ANUPAM DEBSARKAR AND SHIBNATH CHAKRABARTY

Abstract

In this study, quantification and characterization of correlation between traffic noise level and concentration of traffic related air pollutant(s) in the curbside open-air/micro-environment of Kolkata city, India were examined. Accordingly traffic volume, A-weighted equivalent continuous sound-pressure level (Leq), concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and NO2 were monitored in the curbside open-air/micro-environment of 23 major roads and 52 monitoring sites with a sampling frequency of 4 h (12:00 noon to 04:00 p.m.) covering a period of three months from March’2011 to May’2011. Synchronized data on meteorological variables such as wind speed (WS), air temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) were also recorded from a roof-top automated weather monitoring station. Significant variations in traffic volume, concentration of the air pollutants, wind speed, relative humidity and air temperature were observed during the study period. But spatial variation of traffic noise level was accounted poorest. The minimum noise level was also well above the prescribed day time standards of 65 dB(A) for the commercial area for the day time (CPCB India, 2000). 78.85% (41 out of 52) and 40.38% (21 out of 52) of the monitoring sites had their measured concentration of PM2.5 and NO2 higher than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) prescribed by CPCB India, 2009 for industrial residential rural and other area. Statistically significant and moderate positive correlation was accounted in this study between traffic noise level and concentration of PM2.5. This indicated possibility of correlated exposure to these environmental stressors in the curbside open-air/micro-environment to thousands of hawkers, commuters and pedestrians of the city.