Concentration and Behavior of Fine Particulate Matter in a Semi Arid Region, Agra, India

Abstract

PM/1/, PM/2.5/ and PM/10/ Particulate mass concentrations were measured at urban, roadside and rural sites in Agra, India known as the home to the world famous heritage monument ‘The Taj Mahal’. Sampling was done during the year 2008 to 2009. Particulate mass concentrations were measured online by using Grimm aerosol spectrometer. The concentration of of particulate matter at urban site ranged from 34 – 164.26 µg/m3 (PM/1/), 36.41 – 191.10 µg/m3 (PM/2.5/) and 60.93 – 320.69 µg/m3 (PM/10/) in indoor with a mean concentration of 91.67, 98.40 and 170.61 µg/m3 respectively, whereas at outdoors the concentration ranged from 33.46-160.83 µg/m3, 38.66-179.78 µg/m3 and 85.23-272.74 µg/m3 with mean concentrations of 97.73, 115.28 and 186.45 µg/m3 for PM/1/, PM/2.5/ and PM/10/ respectively. The concentration range of PM at roadside site in indoor air was 67.25-151.60 µg/m3 with a mean of 96.89 µg/m3 (PM/1/), for PM/2.5/ 71.45-291.14 µg/m3 and its mean of 291.14 µg/m3 and for PM/10/ mean concentration was 235.17 µg/m3 and it ranged between 119.61-372.21 µg/m3. In outdoors the concentration range was 54.99-205.05 µg/m3, 72.31-283.36 µg/m3 and 125.27-368.74 µg/m3 with their mean of 104.01, 150.23, 250.81 µg/m3 for PM/1/, PM/2.5/ and PM/10/ respectively. At rural site the mean concentration of PM1, PM/2.5/ and PM/10/ in indoor air was 96.98, 136.55 and 229.51 µg/m3 with the mean value of 96.98, 136.55 and 229.51 µg/m3, whereas in outdoor the mean concentration was 110.32 µg/m3 with range of 62.29-230.91 µg/m3 (PM/1/), 148.51 µg/m3 and it ranged from 66.74-256.54 µg/m3 (PM/2.5/) and for PM/10/ the concentration range was 117.95-413.35 µg/m3 with the mean concentration of 217.85 µg/m3. At all the three sites the particulate concentration was found to be higher in outdoors than indoors. Roadside site had the highest concentration of particulate matter followed by rural and urban sites. The highest concentrations of PM were found to be in winter months followed by summer and rainy seasons. In the winter PM/1/, PM/2.5/ and PM/10/ concentrations were maximum and they were observed in months of December and January and the minimum was observed in month of February. Concentrations of al size Pm are correlated with meteorological parameters and they showed significant correlation. The PM concentration was linked to health effects found in the occupants which were more predominant in rural areas house. Cooking was the main sources of PM in indoor at all the location whereas at outdoors the main sources of Pm were vehicular emission and biomass burning.