Environmental Assessment of Toxic Gases and Particulate Matter (PM2.5) Monitoring During Fireworks Episodes (Diwali Festival) in Chennai Metropolitan, Southern India
Usha Natesan
Centre for Rural and Entrepreneurship Development, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Government of India, Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, Taramani, Chennai 600113, Tamil Nadu, India
Giridharan KS
Centre for Rural and Entrepreneurship Development, National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Government of India, Ministry of Education, Department of Higher Education, Taramani, Chennai 600113, Tamil Nadu, India
air quality, fireworks, Chennai metropolitan, pollution sources
Abstract
The Indian celebration of lights, Diwali, is very important. This yearly event in October or November involves spectacular fireworks. Sparklers increase PM and harmful chemicals in the environment. It’s no surprise that events affect air quality. This study measured Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM), Particulate Matter (such as PM2.5), Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Nitric Oxide (NO), Carbon Monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), and Ozone (O3) in Chennai, a densely populated metropolitan area in Tamil Nadu, India, before, on, and after Diwali. It was to determine how firecrackers affect air quality. Southwest (SW) and south-southwest winds predominate before Diwali. During Diwali, west-northwest and south-southwest wind speeds were highest. The average wind speed is 0.2-2.0 m/s. The average gaseous component concentration decreased pre- and post-Diwali. Wind direction and gaseous component distribution show Diwali sparklers were the main source of toxicity. A novel method measures wind patterns and velocities before, during and after Diwali to determine air quality dynamics. Gaseous component levels dropped significantly after Diwali, exceeding expectations. Firework emissions, meteorology and pollution dispersion were assessed. Public awareness efforts are needed since sparklers with lighting characteristics are the main source of Diwali pollution, according to the report. This new idea encourages sustainable, health-focused cultural events and urban environmental protection through data-driven decision-making.
Author Biography
Dr Renjith V Ravi, M.E.A Engineering College
Dr Renjith V Ravi is presently employed as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering and Coordinator of the Post Graduate Programmes conducting at MEA Engineering College, Kerala, India. He possesses B.Tech. degree in Electronics and Communication Engineering in, M.E. degree in Embedded System Technology and Ph.D. in Electronics and Communication Engineering. He is a member of the panel of academic auditors of APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Kerala and had conducted external academic auditing in various affiliated institutions under the same University. He had published several research articles in SCIE and Scopus indexed journals, Edited books and international conferences inside and outside the country. He is an academy graduate and academy mentor in Web of Science and a certified peer reviewer from Elsevier Academy. He has been serving as a reviewer for various SCIE and Scopus indexed journals from IEEE, ACM, Springer, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, IET, Inderscience, World Scientific, IOS Press De-Gruyter and IGI Global. He has been published four edited books and currently editing one edited book from renowned international publishers. He got granted one patent, one industrial design and two copyrights. He had been awarded several outstanding achievement and outstanding service awards, and several best paper awards from international Conferences. He is a Fellow of IETE and member of IE, ISTE, CRSI, IACSIT, IAENG, SDIWC and senior member of SCIEI and SAISE and a chartered engineer certified by the Institution of Engineers (India). He has been served as the Program Committee member, Session Chair as well as reviewer of several National and International conferences conducted in India and abroad. His research areas include Image Cryptography, Image Processing, Machine Learning, Internet of Things Etc. He is currently focusing his research in the area of secure image communication using image cryptography.
Manikanda Bharath Karuppasamy; Usha Natesan; Giridharan KS; Ravi, R. V. Environmental Assessment of Toxic Gases and Particulate Matter (PM<sub>2.5</Sub>) Monitoring During Fireworks Episodes (Diwali Festival) in Chennai Metropolitan, Southern India. SCE2024, 5, 168-180.
