2007, Piran, Slovenia

Working Environment
ANTHROPOGENIC IMPACT ON AEROSOL MASS DISTRIBUTION IN
CENTRAL INDIA
N. K. Jaiswal, K. S. Patel
School of Studies in Chemistry, Pt. Ravishankar Shukla University, Raipur, CG, India.
Contact person: nitinkjaiswal@hotmail.com
The problem of air pollution has attracted special attention in Central India due to tremendous
increase in the amount of pollution accompanying the extensive industrialization and
urbanization over the last few decades. The highest deposits of minerals and fossil fuels are in
Central India. At least 20% of India’s iron ore and 50% its coal reserves are in this region,
including rich deposits of bauxite, limestone, dolomite and corundum. In addition, many
thermal power plants, steel and metal industries, cement industries, rice and spice processing
units are running there. These industries are associated with the production of aerosol
particulates, and both fine (PM2.5) and coarse particulates (PM10) can accumulate in the
respiratory tract, increasing the risk of numerous adverse health effects. At least 50% of
people working in coal mines, thermal and steel plants are suffering with serious respiratory
diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and
heart diseases, due to exposure to fine particulates generated by high industrial thermal
processes. In addition, Bhilai Steel Plant is the biggest unit for iron manufacturing, and it is a
major consumer of coal. Furthermore, other high consuming units for coal are the National
Thermal Plant Corporation (NTPC) and the Bharat Aluminum Limited Company (BALCO).
In the present study, changes in the response of near surface aerosol properties, and their
associations with meteorological parameters have been studied during one year in Raipur
Chhattisgarh. The seasonal variation of aerosol mass concentration (PM10 and PM2.5) was high
in winter and low in the monsoon season. The annual mass concentration of PM10 and PM2.5
ranged from 62-975 and 20-373 µgm -3 , respectively. The RSPM, TSPM levels are also
measured in Industrial sites.
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