Exposure assessment of PM_2.5 in temple premises and crematoriums in Kanpur, India

Regular use of incense and earthen lamps in temples leads to the release of particulate matter (PM), airborne flecks, and gaseous pollutants. Similarly, the cremation of dead bodies using timber and other accessories such as incense, organic chemicals containing carbon, and clothes generates air pollutants. It is currently unclear how much emissions and exposure these activities may lead. This work attempts to fill this gap in our understanding by assessing the associated emissions of PM_2.5 and the corresponding exposure. Ten temples and two cremation grounds were considered for the sampling of PM_2.5. The average PM_2.5 concentration at the ten temples and the two crematoriums was found to be 658.30 ± 112.63 µg/m³ and 1043.50 ± 191.63 µg/m³, respectively. The range of real-time PM_2.5 data obtained from the nearest twelve stations located in the vicinity was 113-191 µg/m³. The exposure assessment in terms of deposition dose was carried out using the ICRP model. The maximum and minimum total respiratory deposition dose rate for PM_2.5 for temples was 175.75 µg/min and 101.15 µg/min, respectively. For crematoriums, the maximum and minimum value of same was 252.3 µg/min and 194.31 µg/min, respectively, for an exposure period of 10 min.