Journal of Environmental Biology

Metals concentration associated with respirable particulate matter (PM₁₀)

in industrial area of eastern U.P. India

Ramesh Singh¹, S. C. Barman*¹, M.P.S. Negi² and S. K. Bhargava¹

¹Environmental Monitoring Section, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, M. G. Marg, Lucknow-226 001, India

²Biometry and Statistics Division, Central Drug Research Institute, M.G. Marg, Lucknow-226 001, India

(Received: December 04, 2006 ; Revised received: May 17, 2007 ; Accepted: May 22, 2007)

Abstract: The present study deals with the assessment of ambient air quality with respect to respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM or PM₁₀ <10 µm) and trace metals (Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, Mn and Pb) concentrations in RSPM at five locations of Renukoot, an industrial area of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. The 24 hr mean concentrations of PM₁₀ ranged between 69.3 to 118.9 mg m^-3, which is well within the permissible limit (150 mg m^-3) of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) but found higher than the prescribed annual daily limit of US EPA (50 mg m^-3).  The ambient air was mostly dominated by the Fe and least by the Cd among the metal analysed.  Murdhawa, a commercial place influenced by vehicular population, is found to be the most polluted area of Renukoot and Dongia nalla (forest area) the least. The ambient air of Murdhawa is rich in Cu and Ni, indicating contribution of mobile sources. The Rammandir, a residential place near the industry, is rich in Cd and Cr, suggesting contribution of point sources. The Ni concentration is found to be alarmingly high in the air at all the locations except Dongia nallah, when compared with the EC (European Commission) limit (20 ng m^-3). The Cd concentration is found to be higher only at Rammandir as compared with the EC limit (5 ng m^-3). Mean concentrations of Zn, Pb and Mn are found to be almost equal in the ambient air of all the locations, suggesting the significance of sources contributing to presence of these metals.  Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni having a significant correlation with PM₁₀ indicate the same source contributing these metals as well as PM₁₀ . The present study has focused on the quantitative variation in different metals in the PM₁₀, which is extremely harmful due to their toxic and carcinogenic nature.

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