Pre-to-post Diwali air quality assessment and particulate matter characterization of a western coastal place in India

Diwali has become an occasion of air and noise pollution, and the release of particulate matter and toxic gases has chronic and acute effects on people and their environment. Thus, an air quality assessment study was done by CSIR-CSMCRI covering the pre-to-post Diwali 2021 period (5 days) in the three locations (traffic, residential, and control) of Bhavnagar. The average 24-h concentration of PM10 (380 µg/m(3)), PM2.5 (182.2 µg/m(3)), and SPM (403 µg/m(3)) was significantly higher during Diwali, exceeding the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The concentrations of SO(2) and NO(2) were 121.8 µg/m(3) and 102.1 µg/m(3). Metals like Zn, Al, Pb, and Mn were found in higher concentrations during the study. The air quality index (AQI) was maximum on Diwali, resembling very poor air quality. More elements and oxides were detected in PM2.5 (S, Al, Mg, Ba, and Zn and their oxides) than in PM10 (Fe and S) through WDXRF. Water-soluble anions like SO(4)(2−), Cl(−), and NO(3)(−) were observed during the study, with a higher SO(4)(2−) (64%) on Diwali. The PM10 morphology and mapping of elements were done using SEM–EDX. Emerging contaminants, specifically phthalate groups, were detected through GCMS. The enrichment factor (EF) showed Zn and Pb originating from anthropogenic activities. The air quality data was validated using a variance test, least significance difference (LSD), correlation, and principal component analysis (PCA). This paper is the first to highlight the air quality assessment during Diwali for a western coastal place in India. It is time to implement regulations on burning firecrackers for pollution reduction, aiming to achieve a sustainable atmosphere. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10661-023-11018-x.