Analysis of Air and Soil Quality around Thermal Power Plants and Coal Mines of Singrauli Region, India

Abstract

Singrauli region is known as the energy capital of India, as it generates nearly 21 GW of electricity, supplied to various parts of the northern India. Many coal-based Thermal Power Plants (TPPs) using coal from several nearby coal mines, and numerous industries are set up in this region which has made it as one of the highly polluted regions of India. In the present study, detailed temporal analysis and forecast of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and methane (CH4) concentrations retrieved from satellite data have been carried out for the periods 2005–2020. Based on the classical multiplicative model and using linear regression, the maximum concentration of CO2, NO2, SO2, and CH4 in the year 2025 is found to be 422.59 ppm, 29.28 ppm, 0.23 DU, and 1901.35 ppbv, respectively. Detailed analysis shows that carbon dioxide has a 95% correlation with all other trace gases. We have also carried out the geo-accumulation index for the presence of various contaminants in the soil of this region. The geo-accumulation index shows that soil in and around thermal power plants and coal mines is contaminated by heavy metals. The cumulative index shows that soil around Hindalco industries, Bina coal mines, Khadia coal mines, and coal-based TPPs (Anpara and Vindhayachal) are highly polluted and a threat to human population living in the region.

The dangerous link between coal dust exposure and DNA damage: unraveling the role of some of the chemical agents and oxidative stress

“…The role of coal mining in the global economy cannot be ignored, as it has made substantial contributions. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that the pollution generated by coal mining poses a significant threat to public health, as highlighted by studies conducted by Hendryx et al ( 2020 ), Romana et al ( 2022 ), and Kamanzi et al ( 2023 ). In our study, utilizing the standard and FPG-modified comet assay, which is a test employed to detect DNA damage, we observed significant levels of DNA damage in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals who were chronically exposed to coal mining residues.…”

“…However, the combustion of fossil fuels is a significant contributor to climate change due to the release of polluting emissions (Jakob et al, 2020). Coal pollution, including residual dust, is known to contaminate the air, water, and soil (Romana et al, 2022;Hendryx et al, 2020), resulting in an increased risk of heart and respiratory diseases such as asthma, pneumoconiosis and bronchitis, as well as cancer, leading to thousands of premature deaths annually (Song et al, 2022;Kamanzi et al, 2023;Kravchenko & Lyerly, 2018).…”

Validation of AERMOD prediction accuracy for particulate matters (PM10, PM2.5) for a large coal mine complex: A Multisource Perspective

“…The Singrauli region's geological features include sedimentary rock formations from the Vindhyan and Gondwana Supergroups, volcano-sedimentary rock formations from the Precambrian Mahakoshal Group, and the Precambrian Chhotanagpur Granite Gneiss Complex (CGGC). The CGGC, represented by the Dudhi group of rocks, comprises migmatitic granitic gneisses, porphyritic granite, and many metasedimentary enclaves (Romana et al 2022). During the preindustrialization era, the region was dominated by forest (43.35%), agriculture (38.56%), and cultivable wasteland (17.44%).…”

“…The Singrauli region is in a temperate zone, with a Köppen climate classi cation of Csa. The average annual precipitation is 1014 mm, with around 80% of it falling during the monsoon season, and the mean temperature is about 25.2°C, with temperatures as low as two °C in the winter and as high as 47°C in the summer (Romana et al 2020(Romana et al & 2022. However, the mine complex is scattered across a large area, and such areas have been shown to establish their microecosystem.…”

“…1). Singrauli is recognized as India's energy hub, with several coal-red thermal power stations and considerable coal mining activities (Romana et al 2022). The Singrauli mining complex covers 438 square kilometers in two districts: Sidhi in Madhya Pradesh and Sonbhadra in Uttar Pradesh, India.…”