Chemical and morphological characterization of respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) and associated heath risk at a critically polluted industrial cluster

Panda, Smaranika; Shiva Nagendra, S.M.

Chemical and morphological characterization of respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) and associated heath risk at a critically polluted industrial cluster

2018

Panda, Smaranika | Shiva Nagendra, S.M.

Present study investigated the physical and chemical characteristics of PM₁₀ at one of the critically polluted industrial clusters of India (Manali, Tamil Nadu). Chemical and morphological analysis were carried out for 103 PM₁₀ samples collected using high volume sampler during winter, summer, monsoon and post monsoon seasons (November 2014 to May 2016). The daily average PM₁₀ concentration at the study area exceeded the national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) by 100, 68, 55, 78% of time during winter, summer, monsoon and post monsoon seasons, respectively. Results indicated dominance of SO₄²⁻ (5481 ng/m³) ions followed by NO₃²⁻ (4445 ng/m³), Na⁺ (4115 ng/m³) and NH₄⁺ (3993 ng/m³) with a strong correlation among SO₄²⁻, NO₃²⁻ and NH₄⁺ suggesting their common origin from industrial and vehicular exhausts. High SO₄²⁻ to NO₃²⁻ ratio indicated dominance of stationary sources at the study area. Metals such as Na, Fe, Ca, K and Al constituent 96% of total elements at the study site. Among toxic metals high concentration of Zn (681 ng/m³) followed by Ba (295 ng/m³), Mn (24.67 ng/m³), V (17.05 ng/m³) and Ni (14.37 ng/m³) were observed. Further, carcinogenic elements such as Cr, Cd, As, Ni and Pb were also observed at the study site with highest cancer risk for Cr. Factor analysis revealed the contributions from industrial processes, heavy oil combustion and petroleum refineries, crustal, marine aerosol and road dust re-suspension and metal industries. Further, morphological analysis showed various metal (C, Si, Fe, Mn, Ti, V) rich particles with irregular, spherical and elongated shapes.

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