Investigating the role of meteorological parameters in the transport of air pollutants from LPG tank trailer explosion in Jaipur, India

Abstract

Air pollution is a growing concern, especially during episodic events that significantly impact air quality and public health. This study examined the impact of air pollutants from an Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) tank trailer explosion in Jaipur, focusing on pollutant transport and the role of meteorology in air quality changes in Jodhpur. The air quality across three phases Pre-Event, During-Event, and Post-Event was assessed by examining variations in pollutant (i.e., PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, NH₃) concentrations and their relationships with meteorological parameters. During the Pre-Event, PM_2.5 was low, while PM₁₀ were moderate. During the Event period, PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ concentrations surged severely to 380 μg/m³ and 430 μg/m³, respectively. CO peaking at 18.3 mg/m³, and NH₃ at 17.2 μg/m³, reflecting severe air quality deterioration. The Air Quality Index (AQI) level was 372 in the Pre-Event and reached 435 during the Event. Air Pollutant concentrations and AQI improved post-event due to wind and atmospheric mixing. Meteorological factors, including humidity, boundary layer height, and wind speed, played a critical role in the transport and dispersion of pollutants, with their combined effect contributing significantly to pollutant behavior and air quality fluctuations. This study supports Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 3 by addressing air pollution health risks, SDG 11 by emphasizing sustainable urban air quality management, and SDG 13 by examining meteorological impacts on pollution dispersion.

Overall, the study underscores the importance of meteorological conditions in shaping pollutant dispersion and highlights the need for targeted air quality management strategies to mitigate health risks from episodic pollution events.