HEALTH RISK ASSESSMENT AND SOURCE APPORTIONMENT OF BLACK CARBON AEROSOLS IN EASTERN INDIAN INDUSTRIAL CITIES

Abstract

The role of black carbon (BC) is vital in the assessment of health effects on individuals. Concentration of BC is measured by a portable aethalometer (AE-33, Magee Scientific, USA) at two distinct locations: the Jamshedpur (JSR) and the Kharagpur (KGP), both situated in eastern India.  During study period BC aerosol mass concentrations measurement for winter season (Oct-24 To Jan-25) and Summer season (Feb-25 To May- 25) in JSR and KGP is measured. The averaged mean BC mass concentrations were noticed to be about 102.86 µgm−3 at JSR and 65.58 µgm−3 at KGP in the winter period. The averaged mean BC mass concentrations were noticed to be about 61.34 µgm−3 at JSR and 50.19 µgm−3 at KGP in the Summer Period. The elevated levels of BC concentrations in JSR were attributed to the proximity of an industrial zone, specifically AIDA (Adityapur Industrial Development Authority), along with heavy traffic and a high population density. Higher concentration of BC in JSR the atmospheric condition as compare to KGP. So health risk associated with BC exposure like lung cancer (LC), low birth weight (LBW), cardiovascular mortality (CVM), and impaired lung function in school-aged children (PLFDSC) were more in JSR as compare to KGP.