Investigation into presence of atmospheric particulate matter in Marikana, mining area in Rustenburg Town, South Africa

Abstract

An investigation to find out presence of particulate matter in Marikana, a mining area in Rustenburg town, South Africa, was carried out in the months of August and November of 2008. Samples were collected for measurements of particulate matter (PM) of particle diameters of PM10, PM2.5, and PM1. After gravimetric analysis of daily measurements, it was found that PM10 concentration values ranged between 3 and 9 μg/m(3), PM2.5 concentration values ranged between 16 and 26 μg/m(3), and PM1 concentration values ranged between 14 and 18 μg/m(3) for the month of August 2008. For the month of November, it was found that PM10 concentration values ranged between 2 and 8 μg/m(3), PM2.5 concentration values ranged between 0 and 5 μg/m(3), and PM1 concentration values ranged between 4 and 15 μg/m(3). This study was undertaken as preliminary work having in mind that mining activities could be emitting high levels of particulate matter in the atmosphere which might be degrading the quality of the air. It was observed, however, that the daily particulate matter especially of PM10 emitted were quite low when compared to laid down International Air Quality Standards. The standards did not give guidelines for particulate matter of diameter 2.5 μm. It was concluded that particulate matter came from three major sources: platinum mining, domestic biomass burning, and traffic emissions due to fuel burning.