Physico-chemical Characterization of Respirable Particulate Matter in an Underground Metro Station Platform: A Case Study in Delhi

摘要

The present study aims at temporal and spatial analysis of respirable particulate matter at the underground metro station (UMS) platform at Chandni Chowk metro station, Delhi. It measures the concentration of 8 elements, namely lead (Pb), silver (Ag), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), cadmium (Cd) and potassium (K) during peak winter season and the sample of 7 days was collected using environmental dust sampler GRIMM 1.107 model and weather station. The study includes testing of these elements by the analysis of collected respirable particulate matter using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). It also evaluates I/O relationships of particulate matter and analyzes the wind rose diagram of the site. The results demonstrated that the average concentration of elements are: Fe (3.36 ±1.11 μ/g/m~3), Zn (0.68 ±0.52 μg/ m~3), K (0.45 ±0.19 μg/m~3), Pb (0.38 ±0.23 μg/mhgh~3), Cu (0.13 ±0.06 μg/m~3), Ag (0.04 ±0.06 μg/m~3), Mn (0.01 ±0.06) and Cd (0 μg/m~3). The 22% of the wind blew from the eastern direction, which could have carried the gaseous emissions as well as particulate matter towards the Chandni Chowk underground metro station due to large parking and heavy traffic from the adjacent road.