Assessment of air quality in Shivamoga City, Karnataka (India)

Assessment of the ambient air quality status in the selected location of Shivamoga city Karnataka State India was carried out for four years (2005 - 2009). Four stations (industrial, commercial, institutional and residential) of Shivamoga city were selected purposively to spotlight an overview of the total air quality of this region. The air quality was assessed based on measuring three air pollutants namely Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Oxides of Sulphur (SOx). The average concentration of SPM in Amir Ahmed circle was the highest at 969.43 μg/m3 and was lowest at the Sahayadri college Campus (65.59 μg/m3). Vinobha nagar with an average of 803.46 μg/m3 is in the medium range as well as industrial area (269.00 μg/m3). The study shows that the average NO2concentration was highest in Amir Ahmed circle (6.79 μg/m3), followed by Vinobha nagar (6.06 μg/m3 ,(industrial area (2.97 μg/m3) and Sahayadri college Campus (1.97 μg/m3). The average SO2 concentration except Vinobha Nagr station (6.59 μg/m3) in all the other locations was below the detection level, i.e. 4 μg/m3Amir Ahmed circle had the second highest value (2.89 μg/m3 .) followed by industrial area (1.49 μg/m3) and Sahayadri college campus (1.22 μg/m3). According to the air quality standards given by NAAQS and WHO standards, the SPM concentrations is high in Amir Ahmed circle and Industrial Area locations and SO2 and NOx pollutants values obtained are all within the standard level. Uncontrolled emission of pollutants by motorized traffic with heavy traffic jam is the main source of pollution in the urban area mainly.