Assessment of occupational and ambient air quality of traffic police personnel of the Kathmandu valley, Nepal; in view of atmospheric particulate matter concentrations (PM10)

This paper presents the analysis and interpretation of occupational and ambient particulate matter concentrations measured as PM10 at a network of ten high density road traffic intersections in Kathmandu valley during the period of February 2008 to January 2009. The purpose was to understand the pollution trends associated with the high density road traffic intersections considering the levels of particulate matter concentrations (PM10), representing the occupational and ambient air quality of the traffic police personnel of the Kathmandu valley, Nepal. The study indicates that the occupational PM10 play a significant dominant role in controlling ambient PM10 loads at the high density road traffic intersections. The occupational and ambient PM10 concentrations in high density traffic area and road intersection of Kathmandu Valley showed a marked monthly and seasonal variation. High density traffic areas and road intersection of the Kathmandu valley were seriously polluted by PM10. Monthly and yearly average occupational and ambient PM10 concentration at the high density traffic areas and road intersection greatly exceeded the 24–h average limit value (120 μg m−3) in Nepal.