Civil Engineering / Environmental / Architecture / Planning Session:

Title:            Concentration of Atmospheric Trace Metals Associated with Respirable Particulate Matter (PM10) and Pollution Index (API) at Bhopal City MP, India
Authors:       Sadhana Chaurasia, Anand Dev Gupta
Abstract:     The present study deals with the assessment of ambient air quality with respect to particulate matter and trace metals concentrations (Zn, Cr, Ni, and Pb) in PM10 at four locations of Bhopal city, an industrial city of Madhya Pradesh. The 24 hrs mean concentrations of PM10 ranged between 102-159 μg/m3 , which was higher than the permissible limit (100μg/m3 ) of national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). Govind Pura an industrial area influenced by industrial population, was found to be the most polluted area of Bhopal city and Shivaji Nagar the residential area the least. The ambient air of Govind Pura was rich in Cr, indicating contribution of vehicular and industrial sources. The Pb and Zn concentration was found high in semi commercial area (T.T. Nagar) but all the values were in permissible limit. The Ni concentration was found high at all station when compared with the European Commission limit (20ng/m3). The present study focused on the quantitative variation in different metals in the PM10, which is extremely harmful due to their toxic and carcinogenic nature. Air pollution index was calculated for PM10 at all selected stations. Govind Pura and Hamidia road indicated orange colour which means air quality of this area is unhealthy for sensitive group. This cause people with respiratory disease are the group most at risk. T.T. Nagar and Shivaji Nagar indicated yellow colour which means moderate air quality. Unusually sensitive people should consider reducing prolonged or heavy exertion.

Keywords:      PM10, Trace metals, Air pollution Index and Bhopal city
Pages:           161-166

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