Elemental Concentration of Inhalable and Respirable Particulate Matter in Urban Area During Wet Season

Abstract

Previously, the capture of suspended particulate matter focused on the total suspended particulate matter, until recent research into the health impacts of suspended particulate matter suggests that minute particles that have toxic substances adsorbed onto their surface are insidious and deleterious for human health and vegetation. The Inhalable fraction and respirable fraction were captured between the month of May 2009 to  October 2009 using SKC Air Check Gravimetric Sampler- Model 210-5000 serial No. 20537 and respirable foam for I.O.M sampler. The elemental composition (Co, Ni, Zn, Cu, Fe, Pb, Cr, Mn and Cd) were analyzed by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric (AAS). The data generated were subjected to descriptive analysis. In inhalable fraction,the enrichment factor ranged from 1-73.3 while in respirable ,it was 1- 72.9.Lead had the
highest mean concentration in both inhalable and respirable fraction. From the enrichment factor Cd was highly enriched while Pb was moderately enriched. Co and Ni were below detection limit in both inhalable and respirable suspended particulate matter. ©JASEM