Atmospheric depositions around a heavily industrialized area in a seasonally dry tropical environment of India.
Clear and through-fall bulk depositions were collected in the downwind of a highly industrialized region in Sonbhadra district of India to estimate the influence of anthropogenic activities on chemical composition of depositions. Significant spatial and temporal variations in depositions of cations and anions were observed. Depositions were higher near the thermal power stations and coal mines as compared to distantly situated site. Seasonally summer samples showed maximum cation and anion depositions followed by winter and minimum in rainy season. The mean pH of the depositions indicates that rainfall in the area is alkaline. Among the anions, maximum deposition was recorded for SO4(2-) followed by NO3- and minimum for Cl-. Among the cations, Ca2+ deposition was maximum followed by NH4+. Na+, K+ and Mg2+ deposition rates showed more or less similar values. The depositions of cations and anions as well as pH were higher in through-fall than clear-fall samples. Results of the present study suggest that atmospheric depositions are strongly modified due to thermal power stations and coal mines in the area.
Singh
Raj Kumar
RK
Department of Botany, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
Agrawal
Madhoolika
M
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D002947:Cities; D002980:Climate; D003032:Coal Mining; D003889:Desert Climate; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007194:India; D007221:Industry; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011210:Power Plants; D012621:Seasons; D013455:Sulfur / Q000032:analysis; D014329:Tropical Climate
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000838:Anions; D002412:Cations; D013455:Sulfur; D009584:Nitrogen