Occurrence of aliphatic and aromatic compounds associated with atmospheric particulate matter in three cities of Gujarat, India

2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 20-27
Author(s):  
Dipa Lalwani ◽  
Dhruti Patel ◽  
Baiju Varghese ◽  
J.I. Nirmal Kumar ◽  
N. Rita Kumar

The organic pollutants associated with atmospheric particulate matter (PM) in the environment, especially PM2.5 (particles <2.5 μm) have become a major issue worldwide in the past decade. The ambient air samples of four different sizes of particles were collected using an active air sampler (cascade impactor) from three cities of Gujarat: Anand, Ahmedabad and Surat. To study morphology and elemental composition, Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray system (EDX) were used for fine particle size <1.0 μm. Besides, organic pollutants associated with particulate matter were analyzed using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS). Total 54 organic chemicals including 29 aliphatic (alkanes and alkanoic acids) and 25 aromatic chemical compounds were identified qualitatively. Phthalate, the well-known plasticizer was found in the atmosphere of all three study sites. In addition, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as naphthalene and fluorene were quantified at high concentrations in Ahmedabad (315 ng/m3 and 509 ng/m3 respectively) followed by Surat (310 ng/m3 and 382 ng/m3) and Anand (76.1 ng/m3 and 123 ng/m3). The distribution of organic chemicals was found diverse at three locations which might be influenced by the different sources and landmass usage in each city. The presence of the carbonaceous elements in the particles indicates biomass burning emissions during the winter season which might be a source of pollutants in the studied areas.

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
Mohammad Lokman Hossain ◽  
Subrata Chandra Roy ◽  
Mithun Chandra Bepari ◽  
Bilkis Ara Begum

Air borne particulate matter PM10 and PM2.5 were collected by using Mini Vol portable Air Sampler from the world most densely populated city Dhaka and its suburban areas over a period of January through December in 2016. This study revealed a comparison of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) of a highly polluted urban area to its two neighboring areas that accommodate heavy oil based power plants. In all three sites the quantity of PM decreases in summer reaching its lowest level in the month of July, however, it increases significantly in winter season. Despite the presence of the fuel based power plants the average concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 at the city Dhaka surpasses its two neighbors Manikganj and Nawabganj. Interestingly, PM2.5/PM10 ratio is higher at the suburban areas than urban area. The study shows that for all the sites PM2.5 is approximately twice than that of WHO and USEPA. However, the values of PM2.5 is almost similar for Nawabganj and Manikganj but much higher for the Dhaka city especially during dry season . The Mass concentration of Black Carbon (BC) was also determined from the PM samples from Manikganj and Nawabganj. Journal of Bangladesh Academy of Sciences, Vol. 43, No. 1, 59-66, 2019


Author(s):  
Durdana Rais Hashmi ◽  
Akhtar Shareef ◽  
Farooq Ahmed Khan

Atmospheric particulate matter may exert serious health hazards because of its chemicalcharacteristics. Aim of this study was to determine the concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with anaerodynamic diameter <10 mm (PM10), and air transmitted particulate trace metals in different areas ofKarachi’s ambient air, for the period of 01 year viz. June 2011 to June 2012. Furthermore, the present workcompares the levels of particulate matter and trace metals with the proposed limiting values from the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency (65 mg/m3 for PM10). The sampling for PM10 was performed by usinga high volume air sampler. The PM10 levels were determined by gravimetry and the metals by graphitefurnace. Arithmetic means of 361.0 mg/m3 was determined for PM10 in commercial areas, 275.0 mg/m3 inresidential areas, 438.0 mg/m3 in industrial areas and 68.9 mg/m3 in background areas of Karachi. Tracemetal content in PM10, such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were also analysed separately during the sameperiod using atomic absorption spectrometry. The average concentration of Pb were found in commercialzone 1.36 mg/m3, in residential zone 1.0 mg/m3, in industrial zone 1.46 mg/m3 and in urban backgroundzone 0.6 mg/m3, whereas; Cd concentration in commercial zone 0.10 µg/m3, in residential zone 0.02 µg/m3,in industrial zone 0.25 µg/m3 and in urban background zone 0.01 µg/m3, respectively.


2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-236
Author(s):  
Sumaya Baitun ◽  
Bilkis Ara Begum ◽  
Md Badiuzzaman Khan

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) samples (both PM10 and PM2.5) were collected simultaneously from Midland Power Company Limited at Ashuganj, in Brahmanbaria to monitor the seasonal fluctuations of particulate matter and black carbon (BC) concentrations from air samples. Total eight samples were collected from January 2016 to December 2017 using two Air Metrics MiniVol samplers and the quantity of PM2.5 and PM10 was detected by weighing the filters before and after exposure. The concentration of PM (PM2.5 and PM10) and BC were analyzed at the laboratory of Chemistry Division, Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka. The black carbon concentration from both PM2.5 and PM10 samples were also determined by reflectance measurement. The concentrations of PM2.5 varied from 12.2–145 μgm−3 where mean value was 67.09 μgm−3. The mean concentration of PM10 was 103.64 μgm−3 whereas the concentration ranged from 20.5–220 μgm−3. The ratios of PM2.5/PM10 fluctuated during different seasons, winter showed higher concentration and summer showed relatively lower concentration for both PM2.5 and PM10. Atmospheric dispersion due to increased wind speeds and wider mixing layer heights are recognized to be responsible for the lower PM concentrations in warmer months. The concentrations of BC in PM2.5 also varied from 2.44–33.4 μgm−3 and BC in PM10 varied from 4.51–57.2 μgm−3, respectively. The concentrations of particulate matter exceeded the Bangladesh National Ambient Air Quality Standard.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 16(2): 232-236, August 2018


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