SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL QUANTIFICATION OF PARTICULATE MATTER (PM10) AND ASSOCIATED HEAVY METALS IN URBAN ENVIRONMENT OF DELHICHANDRA PRAKASH, SHAKEEL AHMAD KHAN AND BHUPINDER SINGHAbstract Atmospheric concentrations of PM10 and associated heavy metals were quantified to study the air pollution load of two distinct location of Delhi viz. (1) Agricultural farms of Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and (2) Yamuna flood plains (YFP). The air sampling has been done for two consecutive years in winter season, comprising the months from November to April in 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. The glass fiber filter paper was used for the particulate matter deposition in high volume sampler. The monthly average concentration of PM10 varies from 112μg/ m3 to 187μg/m3 at IARI and 205 μg/m3 to 364 μg/m3 at YFP. The highest concentration of PM10 was recorded in the month of January. The concentration of PM10 and associated heavy metals were significantly higher at the YFP area. The heavy metal concentration load was 18% and 27% more in the YFP in comparison to the IARI farms in the year 2020-21 and 2021-22 respectively. The higher concentration of heavy metals recorded at YFP because of its location which is cross section of roads having very heavy traffic throughout 24 hrs. and a thermal power plant nearby. The heavy metals concentration trend at each location was in the order of Zn > Fe>Pb>Ni>Cd. The concentration of Pb, Ni, and Cd was significantly less at IARI in comparison to YFP. |