Aerosol mass concentrations and chemical composition of PM2.5 and PM10 were studied during winter season at an urban site (Agra) of North Central India. Weekly samples were collected during winter season from October 2012 to February 2013. The average mass concentrations were found to be 116.4 ± 39 and 310.5 ± 42.9 ?g/m3 for PM2.5 and PM10 indicating the combined impact of local anthropogenic emissions and meteorological conditions. On average, the concentrations of SO42-, NO-3 and NH+4 accounted for 46 and 48% of total WSIS in PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. The average ratio of ?C/?A is > 1 suggesting the alkaline nature of aerosols. The average concentrations of OC and EC were found to be 35.8 ± 19.2 ?g/m3 and 4.8 ± 1.3 ?g/m3 in PM2.5 while 113 ± 23.5 ?g/m3 and 16.3 ± 6.3 ?g/m3 in PM10. A good OC – EC correlation for both PM2.5 and PM10 indicated the presence of common dominant sources for carbonaceous aerosols. The average concentration of TCA was found to be 62.6 ± 31.6 and 190 ± 35.8 ?g/m3 in PM2.5 and PM10 indicating the dominance of carbon rich aerosols. On average, SOC accounted for 43.8 and 34.5% of total OC. High contribution of SOC to total OC may be probably due to the combined emissions of anthropogenically originated VOCs as well as naturally emitted terpenes.

Author Name: Tripti Pachauri*1, Ram Kumar Saraswat2, Anita Lakhani1 & K. Maharaj Kumari1

URL: View PDF

Keywords: Water soluble ions, Organic carbon, Elemental carbon, SOC, SEM/EDX

ISSN:

EISSN: E- ISSN: 2249 –1929

EOI/DOI: [DOI: 10.24214/jcbps.D.7.4.863

Add Citation Views: 1

---