N.K. Udaya Prakash1,2* and S. Bhuvaneswari3
1Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies, Chennai 600117. 2R and D, Marina Labs, 14, Kavya Gardens, N.T. Patel Road, Nerkundram, Chennai 600107. 3Department of Botany, Bharathi Women’s College (A), Broadway, Chennai 600008.
e-mail: nkudayaprakash@gmail.com
*For correspondence
Introduction
It is a known fact that there is no easy method to
combat toxic air. Air is polluted by physical, chemical
and biological particulates. These particulates can easily
reach our respiratory system and in turn the blood
circulation. Toxic air can affect anybody and there is no
privilege in reaching people. When studying the
pollutants, the Particulate Matter below the size range of
10µm (PM10) and below 2.5µm (PM2.5) alone are given
importance among physical pollutant. Chemical
pollutants are mostly considered as a local phenomenon
occurring due to Industrial accidents, Among them
emphasis has been given to monitor CO, CO2, O,. NO2,
NH3, SO2 and Benzene. The biopollutants include
viruses, bacteria, fungal spore-s, pollen grains, fern
spores. insect wings, protein and amino acids of
biological origin. However the impact of biological
pollutants was not given much importance in India until
it becomes epidemic or pandemic in nature. As such no
biological parameters are monitored by Pollution
Control Boards (PCBs) In India.
Chennai is one among the four major cities in India
with the population of nearly 11 million. Due to rapid
industrialization and urbanization, the city face many
problems due to pollution and among them air pollution
has emerged as a concern lately. In Chennai, the air
pollution due to firing crackers during Diwall and in the
month of January due to the celebration of Bhogl are
general phenomenon. However, formation of haze
during the month of November in 2019 is of great shock
for the residents of Chennai and the authors too
experienced this new phenomenon. Thus, the article
provides inputs on the occurrence of haze, their physical
character, chemical nature and their impact on the
environment. Authors aLso have proposed a new term,
i.e. “BIOSOOT” as the soot generated from burning of
biological materials (silages) ¡n fon’nabon of haze.
Haze In Chennal
On Monday November 4, 2019 people of Chennai
experienced an atmosphere filled with haze This
situation lasted until 9th of November 2019 as a short
speLl of rain on the following day cleared the atmosphere
and this event was not a routine for the city. Answers
were needed as of to why there was haze and what was
the reason behind it? It is a known fact that New Delhi is
commonly prone to haze due to the pollutants arising by
burning of silages in adjacent states. But, the Chennai
city has never experienced the haze as similar to that of
Delhi. The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board stated
that this is due to local activities, Le. dust, vehicular
pollution and absence of air current Irom the seashore
which resulted in haze, The meteorological department
reported that, the haze is due to local pollution and had
no similar reasons with the pollution in Delhi (The
Hindu, 5th November 2019). However, few
Environmental activistsdaim, that the haze might have
reached Chennai from New Delhi where silages are
burnt, Few claim that due to Kyarr and Maha. the
cyclones which prevailed in the Arabian Sea and Bulbul
in the Bay of Bengal. resulted in air current that brought
the haze from New Delhi towards South of the Nation.
Further, the haze was also reported in Sri Lanka during
this period which was confirmed by the statement of Mr.
SarathPadmasin, Senior Scientist. National Building
Research Organization, Sri Lanka, claiming that the
pollutants from India are being carried to Sn Lanka (The
Hindu, 7th November 2019). Colombo recorded more
than 150mg of PM2.5. on 6th of November an
uncharacteristically high. With these controversies, the
present review provides some Inputs In this discussion.
Constituents of Haze
Haze Is defined as a phenomenon which obscure the
clarity of the sky due lo the presence of dust, vehicular
emission, smoke and other particulales in the
atmosphere. The dust generated due to fine sand or dry
soil become airborne and serve as a physical irritant
The vehicular emission is found to contain mainly of
carbon along with few organic compounds arising due
to partly combusted fuels. Smoke emanates mostly due
to combustion of materials. Generally they are termed
as either Carbon Black or Black Carbon. However.
when the haze is developed due to burning of silages
then the composition Is under question. Thus, the
authors want to propose a new term as Biosoot. Biosoot
Is defined as the smoke or soot generated when burning
the biomaterials which may either be of plants or
animals origin.
Exposure to Haze
Due to different composition and contribution by
many agents the air becomes toxic. The particulates
suspended in air is generally studied with two major size
distribution. Particulate matter below the size range of
10µm (PM10) and above the size range of 2.5µm
(PM2.5). However, the size distribution of particulate
matter in haze in this case is under question. The size
range of the biosoot generated by combustion of plant
material was studied by the authors and they found that
mayor part of the particulates is between the size ranges
of 200nm - 600nm. Thus, they have the ability to
penetrate deep in to the lungs (Prakash et al.. 2019).
Impact of Haze
The haze when in contact with skin may cause skin
initation. Further, when they are inhaled may worsen
respiratory systems due to the chemical constituent of
the particles present in haze. Authors have studied, the
chemical composition of hiosoot belonging to different
species of plants using Fourier Transform mfra-Red
(FTIR( Spectroscopy and found that the chemical
composition of individual plants are different.
It is noticed that among the communicable diseases,
Acure respiratory infection (ARI) accounted for 69.47%
morbidity leading to nearly 27% of mortality. When you
breathe in polluted air. particulates as pollutants
penetrate and Inflame the linings of respiratory system
Including bronchial tubes and lungs (The Hindu. 6th November 2019). There was an increase in cases
reporting Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
(COPD) during the haze season in Chennai (The
Hindu, 6th November 2019). These nanoparticles can
easily reach the alveolar region of lungs, thus serving as
both irritant and obstructing agent.
The major concern is the size of the particles which
causes health impacts. i.e. bronchitis, asthma, chronic
cough, sinusitis. pharyngitis and cancer, The particles of
less than 1µm have an ability to enter blood stream and
this can even pass through the blood brain barrier lithe
particles reach renal system it may result in problem
associated with kidney, reaching the neurotic system
may result in other neurotic diseases like Parkinson’s
and Alzheimer’s. The risk to pregnant women and baby
is also reported dueto exposure to toxic air.
The impact of haze on plants found to hinder the
penetration of sunlight thus reducing the efficiency of
photosynthesis in turn affecting other metabolic
activities of plants. Long term prevalence of haze
reduces exposure to light may have very high impact on
Food Chain.
Conclusion arid Recommendations
The partides suspended in haze vary in size and
chemical composition. Thus it is important to study the
impact of these particles using Laser Particle Analyzer
(LPA) for size distribution and FTIR & Gas
Chromatography for chemical composition. Stake
holders such as Ministry of Environment. Forestry and
Climate change, Centrai Pollution Control Board (CPCB)
and other State Pollution Control Boards should increase
facilities across the nation to study the same.
It Is known that World Health Organization (WHO)
have sale standards for PMIO and PM2.& However,
after extensive studies on particulate matter of sub micro
particles, safe standard for the same has to be brought.
This specifically suits for biosoot as their size ranges well
below 0.6µm. Further, as biosoot are of biological
origin, this needs to be included as one among the major
biocomponent along with other components in studying
hioaeroso!s by aerobiologists.
References
Prakash, N. U.Snpriya.N.. Gowtham. K.. Suresh, S.,
Sarnpathkumar.B and Bhuvaneswarl, 5. (2019).
A study on the impact of fire crackers on airborne
microflora during diwali. Heliyon. 5 (8): e02202.
Special Correspondent (2019). “Is Delhi’s polluted air
causing smog In Chennal?” The Hindu
Newspaper.Chennai ed. 05 November20 19.
Special Correspondent (2019). “Activists call for city’s
Inclusion In National Clean Air Programme”. The
Hindu Newspaper. Chennai ed. 06 November
2019.
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