PANJIM: Vehicular emissions, road dust, port related activities, biomass burning and marine aerosols are the four major contributors of air pollution in Vasco town, reveals the much awaited Source Apportionment Study of Air Quality by IIT Bombay.
The coal and limestone handling being part of port related activities, the study concludes that the contribution to Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) from the port activities would increase if the quantity of cargo handled is increased.
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The Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) initiated an air pollution source apportionment study in Vasco from November 2017, with a view to address primarily the issue of Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the ambient, after cargo handling units at MPT – JSW and Adani – were found to be involved in violations through excess handling of coal leading to serious air pollution.
The GSPCB in its special meeting held on Thursday accepted the findings of the Source Apportionment Study, which would now be placed before the Bombay High Court at Goa.
“The four factors identified from the study were vehicular emissions, road dust, port related activities and biomass burning, and marine aerosols,” the study concluded.
A combined study was carried out for five sampling locations: Fuse Off Call Office, Goldsmith House, MPT Guest House, Fire Brigade Station and Khariwada for both PM10 and PM2.5 samples.
From the result of source apportionment study, it was observed that the contribution of vehicular pollution to PM2.5 was found to be higher than PM10 at all locations and it ranged from 23-28 per cent, whereas for PM10 it was in the range of 16-25 per cent.
The contribution of marine aerosols to PM2.5 were also found to be higher than PM10 at all locations and ranged from 26-30 per cent, whereas for PM10 it was in the range of 22-29 per cent.
The contribution of port related and biomass burning to PM2.5 and PM10 were almost similar at all locations and ranged from 18-28 per cent. Road dust contributions were dominated by PM10 as compared to PM2.5 at all locations with the range of 25-28 per cent (PM10) and 20-25 per cent (PM2.5).
The study further revealed that the major source influencing air quality at Khariwada is marine aerosols as least impact of port related activities and biomass burning is observed at this site. Fuse Off Call Office is located in town center where vehicular emissions and road dust are major sources impacting air pollution and port activities and biomass burning seem to impact at a lesser extent.
The Goldsmith House, MPT Guest House and Fire Brigade Station showed port related activities and biomass burning as major sources.
“The results indicate that control measures need to be taken for port activities, open burning of biomass and solid-wastes, vehicular emissions, and road dust resuspension by vehicles and sweeping, across the Vasco da Gama area. Marine aerosols cannot be controlled as Vasco da Gama is a coastal port town,” the IIT said.
The study also says that some measures may need to be taken for preventing entrainment of fugitives from dusty cargo handling, and thereby affecting the areas in the vicinity of the source activities.
The study has recommended comprehensive Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to re-evaluate the monitoring and control measures for the influence of duty cargo in the vicinity of the port area.
