Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Priyanka Agarwal ¹, Uma Melkania ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Science, CBSH, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture & Technology, Pantnagar, Uttarakhand, IN

Abstract

Monitoring of ambient air quality parameters (PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and NH₃) levels in the vicinity of a urea fertilizer plant located at Aonla, (U.P.) India, was carried out using the respirable dust sampler. The specific objectives were the determination of temporal variability of levels of ambient air pollutants and their relationship with the fertilizer plant emissions. Samples were collected for 3 consecutive years (2013-2015) from 5 different locations in the industrial area and the quantity of pollutants in the sample were experimentally analysed using the National Ambient Air Quality Standards recognized procedure, in an environmental management lab recognized by UP Pollution Control Board. The results showed a marked seasonal trend and temporal variability of pollutant levels in the study area that were higher in winter and lower in summer, while in rainy period levels were far less than other seasons. Annual mean PM10, PM2.5 and NH3 concentrations were found to be 30.574 μg/m³, 8.109 μg/m³, 22.024 μg/m³ for year 2013, 30.046 μg/m³, 8.129 μg/m³, 22.220 μg/m³ for year 2014 and 30.324 μg/m³, 8.361 μg/m³, 23.254 μg/m³ for year 2015 respectively. The concentration in the study region was jointly influenced by anthropogenic emission and regional natural processes, especially dust events and precipitation. The 24-hr values for PM₁₀, PM_2.5 and NH₃ in all the years from 2013 to 2015 were found to be lower than the prescribed limits of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, which prove the efficiency of the existing pollution control systems being implemented in the plant premises and the scope for new technology which could help in further lowering the emissions.

Keywords

Air Pollutants, Urea Fertilizer Plant, Anthropogenic Emission, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, NH₃.

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