Characteristics and sources of water-soluble ionic species associated with PM10 particles in the ambient air of central India

Abstract

PM(10) aerosol samples were collected in Durg City, India from July 2009 to June 2010 using an Andersen aerosol sampler and analyzed for eight water-soluble ionic species, namely, Na(+), NH(4) (+), K(+), Mg(2+), Ca(2+), Cl(-), NO(3) (-) and SO(4) (2-) by ion chromatography. The annual average concentration of PM(10) (253.5 ± 99.4 μg/m(3)) was four times higher than the Indian National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 60 μg/m(3) prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board, India. The three most abundant ions were SO(4) (2-), NO(3) (-), and NH(4) (+), with average concentrations of 8.88 ± 4.81, 5.63 ± 2.22, and 5.18 ± 1.76 μg/m(3), respectively, and in turn accounting for 27.1 %, 16.5 %, and 15.5 % of the total water-soluble ions analyzed. Seasonal variation was similar for all secondary ions i.e., SO(4) (2-), NO(3) (-), and NH(4) (+), with high concentrations during winter and low concentrations during monsoon. Varimax Rotated Component Matrix principal component analysis identified secondary aerosols, crustal resuspension, and coal and biomass burning as common sources of PM(10) in Durg City, India.