Characterization of Fine Air Particles in Delhi

Due to exponential increase in the number of vehicles registered, presence of thermal power plants and industrial activities in Delhi, the pollution levels are higher making it very clear that the pollution levels are contributed by all these sources. Hence, a study of monitoring of ambient air quality at 4 sites of Delhi city due to above-mentioned sources was carried out in order to assess the impact of various sources on pollution levels in the month of October and November 2000. Pollutants namely SO2, NOx and SPM (FSP, RSP and TSP) were monitored at 4 different locations, namely, Okhla Industrial Area Phase-1, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and Shakarpur (residential area) and Vasant Vihar Bus Depot (commercial area). It was tried to assess a possibility of conversion of SO2 and NOx to sulfates and nitrates respectively. Chemical and physical analysis was performed for the above-mentioned purposes. Chemical analysis was performed of soil, NRSP, PM10 and PM2.5. The parameters analyzed chemically were SO4, NO3, K, Na, Pb, Cd, Ni, PAHs, LOI, residue and soluble fraction. The parameters analyzed physically were d50 value, particle size distribution and particle shape.