Title: | Emission of volatile organic compounds from religious and ritual activities in India |
Author(s): | Dewangan S; Chakrabarty R; Zielinska B; Pervez S; |
Address: | "School of Studies in Chemistry, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, CG, 492010, India" |
DOI: | 10.1007/s10661-013-3250-z |
ISSN/ISBN: | 1573-2959 (Electronic) 0167-6369 (Linking) |
Abstract: | "Worshipping activity is a customary practice related with many religions and cultures in various Asian countries, including India. Smoke from incense burning in religious and ritual places produces a large number of health-damaging and carcinogenic air pollutants include volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde, benzene, 1,3 butadiene, styrene, etc. This study evaluates real-world VOCs emission conditions in contrast to other studies that examined emissions from specific types of incense or biomass material. Sampling was conducted at four different religious places in Raipur City, District Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India: (1) Hindu temples, (2) Muslim graveyards (holy shrines), (3) Buddhist temples, and (4) marriage ceremony. Concentrations of selected VOCs, respirable particulate matter (aerodynamic diameter, <5 mum), carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide were sampled from the smoke plumes. Benzene has shown highest emission factor (EF) among selected volatile organic compounds in all places. All the selected religious and ritual venues have shown different pattern of VOC EFs compared to laboratory-based controlled chamber studies" |
Keywords: | Air Pollutants/*analysis Air Pollution/statistics & numerical data Benzene/analysis Carbon Monoxide/analysis Ceremonial Behavior *Environmental Monitoring Formaldehyde/analysis India Particulate Matter/analysis Religion Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysi; |
Notes: | "MedlineDewangan, Shippi Chakrabarty, Rajan Zielinska, Barbara Pervez, Shamsh eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2013/05/28 Environ Monit Assess. 2013 Nov; 185(11):9279-86. doi: 10.1007/s10661-013-3250-z. Epub 2013 May 25" |