Seasonal Variability of Indoor Air Pollutants and Their Effect on Health in Lucknow City- Metropolitan City (Capital of the Most Polluted State in the World)

ANAM TAUSHIBA, Rahila Rahman, Alfred Lawrence, Integral University Lucknow, India

     Abstract Number: 294
     Working Group: Identifying and Addressing Disparate Health and Social Impacts of Exposure to Aerosols and Other Contaminants across Continents, Communities, and Microenvironments

Abstract
The ubiquitous particulate matter has the potential to spontaneously bind to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and regarded as a significant threat to the health of humans. The purpose of this study was to assess the concentration of airborne particulates of air pollution risks specifically women’s health by determining three crucial parameters- inhalable particulates, microbiological contaminants (bacteria and fungi) load present in the air, and PAHs which are associated with PM2.5 in the air environment of Lucknow, India during summer and winter seasons in six distinct households located in various areas of the city throughout the summer season (April, May, and June) in 2022 and the winter season (November, December, and January) in 2022–2023. The study's primary focus is indoor air quality, and it begins with a questionnaire survey that was primarily carried out to determine how it affects women's health. Six houses from various microenvironments were chosen for indoor monitoring based on the survey results. The study's observation of the indoor particulate matter concentration trend revealed that most of the greatest concentrations are found in homes close to an industrial region. In the winter, the H4 and H6 had the average indoor PM2.5 concentrations, measuring 202.3 µg/m3 and 209.1 µg/m3 respectively, whereas, in the summer, the H5 and H6 had the highest indoor PM2.5 concentrations, measuring 142.1 µg/m3 and 167.0 µg/m3 respectively. Even though, the H5 PAH, with an average indoor concentration of 17.541ng/m3, had the highest average indoor concentration among PM2.5-associated PAHs. Also, women of all ages performed the LADD followed by the LLCR. Regarding microbial contaminants, high bacterial and fungal loads of 4980.21 CFU/m3 and 524.23 CFU/m3 in the month of June in the kitchen area were found in the summer due to high temperatures and greater humidity, which provided more nutrients for bacterial and fungal growth (due to a rise in the rate of biodegradation of food waste as well as leftovers). While in the same context, low bacterial and fungal loads were found in the winter. The results obtained from this research will represent the initial step towards giving better insight into the air quality in a variety of microenvironments. This would also help to gain an understanding of the negative effects of microbiological pollutants and provide a better basis for creating new regulations for prospective restrictions.
Keywords: Indoor air, Seasonal variation, LLCR, Passive method, Particulate matter, Health assessment.