A REVIEW ON DEPOSITION OF ATMOSPHERIC PAHS AND INTERACTION WITH OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL MATRICES AND ITS SOURCE APPORTIONMENT WITH RESPECT TO INDIAN SCENARIO

摘要

Atmospheric bulk deposition of PAHs is the comprehensive pathway for transfer of these compounds to other environmental matrices. In India, prevailing atmospheric conditions during different seasons of the year are unique. Thus, the factors governing bulk deposition of PAHs in India are quite discrete from that of other parts of the world. In our literature survey, an attempt has been made to study the contribution of bulk deposition PAHs into various other environmental compartments including soil, street dust, river water and sediment. PAHs are a unique class of organic pollutants containing 2 or more fused aromatic rings, which are very lethal and potent carcinogens. Their occurrence has been reported from various places which indicates their ubiquitous nature of our environment. USEPA has already listed 16PAHs as most priority ones to be analysed in various environmental matrices. The meteorological parameters played a significant role in atmospheric deposition of PAHs with temperature dependent scavenging for LMWPAHs. The exposure risk for PAHs in all the environmental matrices was found to be the maximum during dry season