Title: Study of mineral aerosols in fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10) atmospheric particles over a world heritage site at Agra, India

Authors: Atar Singh Pipal; P. Gursumeeran Satsangi; Suresh Tiwari; Ajay Taneja

Addresses: Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, 411007, India ' Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, 411007, India ' Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, New Delhi, 110060, India ' Department of Chemistry, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra, 282002, India

Abstract: PM2.5 and PM10 samples were collected at different sites from Agra to see their monthly and seasonal trends along with associated mineral aerosols. Annual mean mass concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 over Agra were 104.25 and 261.89 µg/m³ respectively. The monthly average varied from 26.94 to 211.56 µg/m³ and 126.05 to 474.31 µg/m³ in fine and coarse particles at traffic site while at semirural site it varied from 50.44 to 275.99 and 93.86 to 528.33 µg/m³ in fine and coarse respectively. Concentrations of crustal elements indicate that calcium was abundant among the elements in mineral dust. Significant correlation coefficient (r = 0.51-0.87) was observed among the crustal elements indicating the origin of these elements from similar type of sources at semirural site. Enrichment factor analysed found that the origin of these elements is from crust and anthropogenic activities as well as local and transported sources.

Keywords: ICP-AES; mineral dust; crustal elements; source identification; India; mineral aerosols; PM2.5; PM10; atmospheric particles; world heritage sites; air pollution; air quality; enrichment factor.

DOI: 10.1504/IJETM.2014.066523

International Journal of Environmental Technology and Management, 2014 Vol.17 No.6, pp.538 - 553

Received: 14 Sep 2013
Accepted: 03 Oct 2014

Published online: 14 Jan 2015 *

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