ASSESSMENT OF AIR AND WATER QUALITY UNDER DOMINANT LANDUSES IN LOW HILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2019-10
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UHF,NAUNI
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present study entitled “Assessment of Air and Water Quality under Dominant Landuses in
Low hills of Himachal Pradesh” was conducted in the department of Environmental Science, Dr. Y S Parmar
University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni-Solan during 2017-2018. The aim of study was to assess the air
and water quality status under four dominating landuses in areas of low hills, their geo-spatial mapping and to
find out the pollution causing practices. The study was conducted in Bilaspur, Kangra and Hamirpur districts of
Himachal Pradesh. Two locations on the basis of MC (municipal committee) in each of three districts have been
selected under dominant landuses (urban, peri-urban, agriculture and forest) and periodic sampling has been
done during pre and post monsoon seasons in case of air sampling and for water sampling three seasons i.e. pre,
monsoon and post-monsoon have been done. The study revealed that the different air qualityparameters PM10,
SO2, NO2 and VOCs ranged from 18.17 to 62.00 µ gm-3, 2.61 to 7.17 µ gm-3, 29.00 to 34.75 µ gm-3 and 1.96 to
5.55 µ gm-3respectively, which were found within the permissible limits. The surface water quality parameter
like pH, turbidity, EC, TDS, COD, Mg, chlorides, nitrates, heavy metals (Ar, Cd, Pb, Cr, Zn), total coliform
ranged from 6.3 to 6.9, 4.0 to 9.9 NTU, 0.224 to 0.496 dS m-1, 34.72 to 170.39 mg l-1, 64.78 to 105.89 mg l-1,
9.88 to 25.05 mg l-1, 17.04 to 87.61 mg l-1, 2.22 to 15.56 mg l-1, 0 to 0.006 mg l-1, 0 to 0.004 mg l-1, 0 to 0.006
mg l-1, 0 to 0.006 mg l-1 , 0 to 0.004 mg l-1, 22.89 to 196.50 MPN 100 ml-1, which were within the permissible
limits whereas, DO, BOD and Ca ranged from 4.09 to 5.67 mg l-1, 2.9 to 6.8 mg l-1 and 35.89 to 87.50 mg l-1
which were above the permissible limits. The ground water quality parameters like pH, turbidity, EC, TDS,
COD, Mg, chlorides, nitrates, heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn), total coliform ranged from 6.3-6.9, 5 to 6.1 NTU,
0.25 to 0.52 dS m-1, 69.66 to 410.16 mg l-1 , 65.33 to 106.56 mg l-1, 33.44 to 94.67 mg l-1, 9.78 to 25.24 mg l-1,
15.82 to 60.26 mg l-1, 2.73 to 20.17 mg l-1, 0 to 0.003 mg l-1, 0 to 0.006 mg l-1, 0 to 0.003 mg l-1, from 18.00 to
78.78 MPN 100 ml -1 were within the permissible limits whereas, the parameters like DO, BOD, Ca, Ar, and Cr
ranged from 4.62 to 6.62 mg l-1 , 2.7 to 6.6 mg l-1 , 33.44 to 94.67 mg l-1 , 0 to 0.058 mg l-1 , 0 to 0.058 mg l-1
were above the permissible limits. The Hg was not found in both surface and ground water sources. Feedback
was ascertained through formal (questionnaire) and informal (meetings/personal interactions) from the
inhabitants of the study area for testing their knowledge about pollution causing agents or practices. According
to the respondent’s perception anthropogenic activities like excessive use of pesticides/fertilizers, waste disposal
methods, mining activities, habitat modification, road construction and demolition, deforestation etc. were
responsible for air and water quality deterioration. The air quality index (AQI) of ambient air ranged from 25.76
to 46.57, surface water quality index (WQI) of surface water ranged from 24.47 to 63.24, ground water quality
index (WQI) of ground water ranged from 19.78 to 52.15. The AQI and WQI were mapped using ERDAS GIS
software.
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