Black carbon emissions from traffic contribute sustainability to air pollution in urban cities of India

Real-time measurement of black carbon (BC) aerosol contaminated air has potential for human health and climate change. A comprehensive investigation of BC concentration and its source apportionment distribution in the atmosphere of three traffic sites in East India was conducted using the portable Aethalometer (AE-33). The results showed that concentrations of BC ranged from 2.48 to 47.57 μg m⁻³ were minimum in Ranchi (RNC, 10.39 ± 2.48 μg m⁻³) and maximum in Jamshedpur (JSR, 18.22 ± 10.76 μg m⁻³). The average BC mass concentrations were reported as 18.22 ± 10.76 μg m⁻³, 14.18 ± 3.14 μg m⁻³, and 10.39 ± 2.48 μg m⁻³ at JSR, DHN (Dhanbad), and RNC, respectively. This was attributed to a high volume of traffic and a dense population in JSR compared to other sites. The airborne particulate particles arrived from various directions, as evidenced by backward trajectories. According to the diagnostic ratio analysis of BC, it was observed that the highest contribution of fossil fuel was reported at DHN (57%) and the highest contribution of biomass burning was reported at RNC (53%). Apart from explaining BC’s atmospheric impacts, the health risk measurement of BC during various traffic sites over East India is also demonstrated in order.