10th International Aerosol Conference September 2 - September 7, 2018 America's Center Convention Complex St. Louis, Missouri, USA
Abstract View
Air Quality Status in India: Chemical Characterization and Source Interpretation of a Few Major Cities
RANJIT KUMAR, DEI, Dayalbagh, Agra
Abstract Number: 802 Working Group: Air Quality in Megacities: from Sources to Control
Abstract Air quality of any airshed can be adjured by aerosol particles. Recently, WHO has reported that out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world 13 are from India. This is worrisome. The concentration of the respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) are high for most of the cities in India except Tirupati. The concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 over megacities like Agra, New Delhi, Chennai, Kanpur, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata are quite higher than WHO, USEPA, EUPAQ standards even the concentration are many times higher than National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) set by India. Aerosol particle causes radiative forcing affects climate and pose threat to human health. The effects of aerosol particles depend upon the chemical constituents of aerosol. A long-term study on chemical characterization of aerosol particle has been carried out in Agra over the Indo-Gangetic basin. The concentration of NH4+ is highest followed by Mg2+>Ca2+ >SO42->Cl->K+>NO3->Na+. The sum of cations is higher than the sum of the major anions. The aerosol is alkaline in nature over this region. The ratio of SO42- and NO3- upon Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, Cl- is less than 1. The NH4+, Ca2+, Mg2+, are a main neutralizing component of the aerosol over this region. Principle component analysis (PCA) reveals soil as a major contributor of aerosol particles over this region. Increase in the number of vehicles and construction activities are other important sources. Biomass combustion and open waste burning also contribute towards high concentration of the aerosol particle in this region. A comparative study on chemical constituents of aerosol particles of New Delhi, Kanpur, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata has been performed. The concentration of chemical constituents of aerosol particulate is different in different cities but the trends are more or less similar. The natures of the aerosol of all these megacities are basic. But the source strength is different at different places. The concentration of aerosol particle Hysplit model and wind rose studies have shown the role of meteorological parameters and condition in the concentration of aerosol particle over the mega cities of India.