PM_(10) CONCENTRATIONS MEASURED IN OPEN PIT COAL MINES IN NORTHERN COLOMBIA: SEASONAL VARIATIONS, TRENDS AND SOURCE

摘要

PM_(10) particulate material is one of the criteria pollutants with the greatest monitoring in Colombia. Daily concentrations of PM_(10) were evaluated in an open pit coal mine (Cerrejon) located in northern Colombia, during 2012-2017. The annual mean concentration for PM_(10) varied from 22.89 to 41.54 μg/m~3. The annual averages of all sampling sites exceed the WHO guidelines for PM_(10) (20 μg/m~3). Daily PM_(10) concentrations exceeded the WHO PM_(10) guideline limit (50 μg/m~3) for approximately 15.70% of the sampling days. PM_(10) concentrations at all sites presented a significant correlation (r ranged from 0.40 to 0.84). These strong relationships indicate the existence of common sources of PMio. A trend analysis was performed in all monitoring sites. PM_(10) concentrations showed positive trends for four sampling sites. The results of the conditional probability function (CPF) analysis indicate that open pit mining is the main source of emissions of PMio, contributing to concentrations higher than 45 μg/m~3. The Cerrejon mine needs a plan to reduce particulate matter to comply with the new Colombian standards.