Atmospheric Bulk Deposition of PAHs over Brahmaputra Valley: Characteristics and Influence of Meteorology

Karishma Hussain; Mirzanur Rahman; Amit Prakash; Kali Prasad Sarma; Raza Rafiqul Hoque

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2016.02.0060

Atmospheric Bulk Deposition of PAHs over Brahmaputra Valley: Characteristics and Influence of Meteorology

Urban Air Quality

Karishma Hussain¹, Mirzanur Rahman², Amit Prakash¹, Kali Prasad Sarma¹, Raza Rafiqul Hoque ¹

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¹Department of Environmental Science, Tezpur University, Tezpur 784028, India
²Department of IT, Gauhati University, Guwahati 781014, India

Received: February 6, 2016
Revised: May 4, 2016
Accepted: May 9, 2016
Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2016.02.0060

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Cite this article:
Hussain, K., Rahman, M., Prakash, A., Sarma, K.P. and Hoque, R.R. (2016). Atmospheric Bulk Deposition of PAHs over Brahmaputra Valley: Characteristics and Influence of Meteorology. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 16: 1657-1689. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2016.02.0060

HIGHLIGHTS

Bulk atmospheric deposition of PAHs studied - first report from Brahmaputra Valley.
Seasonality observed - greater PAHs deposition in dry season.
Diagnostic ratios indicated pyrogenic origin of the PAHs.
Deposition of PAHs is profoundly influenced by meteorological factors.

ABSTRACT

Bulk atmospheric deposition of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Guwahati city of the Brahmaputra Valley have been characterised for a period of one year. The ∑PAHs (USEPA’s priority 16) and benzo(s)pyrene (BaP) concentrations in the collected bulk deposit ranged between 2.2 and 1035 ng mL^–1, and BDL and 5.6 ng mL^–1 respectively. Greater deposition of PAHs was observed during the dry season and the deposition of low molecular weight PAHs (LMWPAHs) were particularly high. The study revealed explicit effect of the prevailing meteorology on the bulk atmospheric deposition characteristics of PAHs. Greater number of inversion days and lowering of inversion height during the dry season were found to enhance deposition of PAHs. Diagnostic ratios indicated pyrogenic origin of the PAHs derived from combustion of diesel, coal and wood combustion. The deposition of LMWPAHs was greatly influenced by temperature. The diurnal variation of relative humidity, and wind pattern were found to affect deposition of PAHs

Keywords: PAHs; Atmospheric bulk deposition; Deposition mass flux; Meteorology