ACUTE PROPORTIONALITY BETWEEN HUMAN EXPOSURE AND AMBIENT EXPOSURE OF RESPIRABLE PARTICULATE MATTER

This study statistically evaluates the acute proportionality between human exposure and ambient exposure of respirable particulate matter (RSPM) in the Chennai metropolitan city. This assessment significantly discovered the potential health risk of respirable particulate matter and the importance of human exposure monitoring in Chennai city. The concentration of RSPM in the atmosphere is determined by IS 5182 Part 23 and its human exposure is determined by NIOSH 0600 method. Monitoring conducted in the period of January 2018 to December 2018 at five terrific traffic zones of Chennai city viz. Saidapet (L1), T. Nagar (L2), Vadapalani (L3) Nungambakkam (L4) and Mount road (T5), twice in a week and 104 measurements were completed. The outcome of daily average assessment during the month of January to September in all locations were exceeded 60% of the days and 40% of the days were close to the limit of NAAQS (100.0 µg/m3). However from October to December, 35% of the days were exceeded, 25 % of the day very close to the limit and 40% of the day was significantly lower than the specified maximum permissible limit of NAAQS. While comparing all the locations, L1 and L5 are contaminated with high RSPM. Further assessment of monthly and annual mean of RSPM exceeded the maximum permissible level of 100 µg/m3 and 60 µg/m3 respectively. The most critical evaluation of proportionality percentage between ambient and human exposure of respirable particulate matter illustrates a person living an entire year in the selected locations, is breathing 45.7%, 39.4%, 41.4%, 35.7% and 36.3% of RSPM present in his near environment of L1, L2, L3, L4 and L5 respectively. When comparing all those locations, the highest level of proportionality percentage was found at L1 and lowest proportionality percentage was found at L3. The estimated proportionality percentage specifies the serious impact ofRSPM on human health. However, the existing referral monitoring system does not measure human exposure of air pollution. Hence this research can insist, to consider the human exposure of air pollution as a serious concern, because of the risk factors and life-threatening. The governing authority needs to take appropriate human exposure measurements and I mplement a control system to secure human life