Assessment of heavy metals in suspended particulate matter in Moradabad, India

Samples of suspended particulate matter (PM10) were collected from three different sites in Moradabad, India. The sampling was done concurrently twice a week during the period of April 2011-March 2012. Elemental concentration of PM10 was analyzed using an Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometer (ICP-OES). The monthly mean concentration of PM10 (RSPM) ranged between 63-226 microgm(-3), which was higher than the permissible limit of 100 microgm(-3) of National Ambient Air Quality Standards. The maximum concentration of Zn, Fe, Cu, Cr and Ni found in the Industrial area of the city was 21.24, 18.43, 15.23, 0.41, 0.03 microgm(-3), respectively; whereas the maximum concentration of Pb (2.72 microgm(-3)) and Cd (0.20 microgm(-3)) was found in heavy density traffic area, denoted as commercial area. The study shows that high number of vehicles and the brassware industries are responsible for enhanced concentration of heavy metals in the Brass City.