Journal of Environment
and Health Sciences
Keywords: PM
2.5
; Traffc congestions; Traffc junctions; Respiratory diseases; Asth-
ma; Traffc personnel; CAL roads
J Environ Health Sci | volume 2: issue 6
Introduction
Traffc junctions are provided on roads and at intersections for smooth movement of traffc and to avoid traffc congestions.
Traffc signals are provided at the junctions with time duration of 55 sec to 2 min where the vehicles remain in idling condition. The
number of vehicles rest at junction for few seconds and emissions are emitted continuously for that particular time. Survey was done
at various traffc junctions and was observed that hardly any vehicle is switched off. This idling time increases air pollution levels
which cause acute and chronic impact on the exposed people in the vicinity of the traffc junctions. Between 1976 and 1991 vehicle
registration of two wheelers, scooter and cars in Maharashtra Metropolitan Region (MMR) increased by factor of 3.25, while truck
and bus registration increased by 2.22 times, private vehicle registration increase by 3.45 times mainly as a result of increase in
scooter and motor cycle ownership. Private vehicle registration in 2011 is expected to more than double the 1991 levels. Number of
private vehicles per 1000 persons is expected to increase from 49 in 1991 to 61.1 by 2011(MMRDA, 1992).
Copyrights: © 2016 Kale, U.S. This is an Open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License.
1 Kale, U.S., et al.
Special Issue Open Access
Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Andheri, Mumbai, India
Abstract
Traffc junctions and congestions are the hotspots of suspended particulate
matter. Survey is conducted on the street people those are directly exposed to partic-
ulate matter. This study has put more focus on the respiratory disorders caused due
to particulate matter. Comprehensive study is conducted on the traffc congestions
and traffc personnel. Evaluation of particulate matter (PM
2.5
) with a diameter of 2.5
micrometers or less is done during the peak hours. A weekly measurement of PM
2.5
was averaged at the most congested junctions of Mumbai. Time based study is un-
dertaken to correlate the impact of PM
2.5
and effect of chronic and acute symptoms
among traffc personnel’s. These effects were monitored through spirometric analysis
on exposed and unexposed groups. Further the impacts were categorised into acute
and chronic impacts. CALINE 3 is used to predict concentration of pollutants near
traffc junctions where vehicles have to wait on queue in idling condition for signals.
The traffc personnel’s were diagnosed for occupational health effects which compris-
es of respiratory related diseases. These prospective data supports the development of
asthma and respiratory disorders irrespective of the other risks.
*
Corresponding author: Uma S. Kale, Reserach Scholar, Sardar Patel College of Engineering, Andheri, Mumbai, India; E-mail:
kaleuma@gmail.com
Citation: Kale, U.S., et al. Evaluation
of Impact of Particulate Matter on Traffc
Personnel and at Traffc Junctions. (2016)
J Environ Health Sci 2(6): 1- 9.
Evaluation of Impact of Particulate Matter on Traffc
Personnel and at Traffc Junctions
Uma S Kale*, P.H. Sawant
Received date: July 31, 2016
Accepted date: November 15, 2016
Published date: November 21, 2016
DOI: 10.15436/2378-6841.16.1037