Exploring temporal and spatial variations in air quality of Kota City, Rajasthan, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1620678Keywords:
Air Quality Index (AQI), ambient air quality , Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) , Sulfur dioxide (SO2) , particulate matter (PM10)Abstract
Air pollution poses severe challenges to public health and environmental sustainability worldwide. This study evaluates air quality in Kota, Rajasthan, India, over seven years (2018–2024), focusing on nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and particulate matter (PM10) all of which significantly affect respiratory and cardiovascular health. The research methodology integrates data from six monitoring stations and employs temporal, spatial variation along with the air quality index (AQI) calculation. Seasonal and annual variations in air quality parameters were analyzed using trend and spatial analysis to identify pollution sources and patterns. The results reveal that NO2 levels peaked at 63.13 µg/m3 at Shrinathpuram Stadium (SS) in winter 2024, while the lowest concentration of 23.22 µg/m3 was observed at Rajasthan Technical University (RTU) in 2020. SO2 levels were highest at 14.56 µg/m3 at the Regional Office (RO) during summer 2022 and dropped to 5.97 µg/m³ at the Fire Station (FS) in 2020. PM10 consistently exceeded the permissible limits set by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), with a maximum of 228.00 µg/m3 at RTU in winter 2018 and a minimum of 84.69 µg/m3 at SS in 2020. The AQI values were highest in 2018 (155.11 at RTU) and lowest in 2020 (83.57 at FS), indicating moderate pollution levels that could cause discomfort to individuals with respiratory or heart conditions. The study identifies emissions from the Kota Thermal Power Plant, increasing vehicular density, road dust, construction-demolition activities, and rapid urbanization as the primary pollution sources. The analysis also highlights a significant drop in pollution levels during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, demonstrating the role of human activities in air quality deterioration. These findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring and evidence-based policy interventions to mitigate the health impacts of pollution and promote sustainable urban development.
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