Exposure assessment of pulmonary functions of school going children due to agriculture crop residue burning practice in Indo-Gangetic plains of India

Abstract

Agriculture crop residue burning is a serious issue in Northern India due to ineffective control policies. An epidemiological study has been done on school going children to evaluate the trends in their physiological parameters due to crop residue burning activity in the affected area. Total 600 children were recruited and continuously inspected for three years at three different sites. Season wise, the level of fine particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) was higher in rice crop residue burning seasons than in wheat crop residue burning seasons. As per dose–response relationship, maximum degradation was observed in FVC (−7.62%) and PEF (−6.23%) parameters from their baseline values due to burning activities. With adjustment of socioeconomic, anthropometric parameters of selected subjects and meteorological parameters in multivariate mixed effect model, prediction equations have been purposed to observe the future trends in physiological parameters of children. Based on Tiffenue index, an unrecoverable effect has been observed in lung parameters. Trends were alarming and may cause serious complications in early age of human subjects.

Keywords:

• agriculture crop residue burning
• physiological parameters
• dose–response relationship
• mixed effect model
• prediction equations

Acknowledgement

Author is thankful to Dr. Susheel Mittal and Dr. Ravinder Agarwal (TIET, Patiala) for their guidance and support. I also acknowledge the support and faith of Dr. Loviraj Gupta and Dr. Geetha (Dean Research Cell, LPU).