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Seasonal variation and sources of carbonaceous species and elements in PM2.5 and PM10 over the eastern Himalaya

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Abstract

The study represents the seasonal characteristics (carbonaceous aerosols and elements) and the contribution of prominent sources of PM2.5 and PM10 in the high altitude of the eastern Himalaya (Darjeeling) during August 2018–July 2019. Carbonaceous aerosols [organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), and water soluble organic carbon (WSOC)] and elements (Al, Fe, Ti, Cu, Zn, Mn, Cr, Ni, Mo, Cl, P, S, K, Zr, Pb, Na, Mg, Ca, and B) in PM2.5 and PM10 were analyzed to estimate their possible sources. The annual concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were computed as 37±12 μg m−3 and 58±18 μg m−3, respectively. In the present case, total carbonaceous species in PM2.5 and PM10 were accounted for 20.6% of PM2.5 and 18.6% of PM10, respectively, whereas trace elements in PM2.5 and PM10 were estimated to be 15% of PM2.5 and 12% of PM10, respectively. Monthly and seasonal variations in mass concentrations of carbonaceous aerosols and elements in PM2.5 and PM10 were also observed during the observational period. In PM2.5, the annual concentrations of POC and SOC were 2.35 ± 1.06 μg m−3 (66% of OC) and 1.19±0.57 μg m−3 (34% of OC), respectively, whereas annual average POC and SOC concentrations in PM10 were 3.18 ± 1.13 μg m−3 (63% of OC) and 2.05±0.98 μg m−3 (37% of OC), respectively. The seasonal contribution of POC and SOC were ranging from 55 to 77% and 33 to 45% of OC in PM2.5, respectively, whereas in PM10, the seasonal contributions of POC and SOC were ranging from 51 to 73% and 37 to 49% of OC, respectively. The positive relationship between OC & EC and OC & WSOC of PM2.5 and PM10 during all the seasons (except monsoon in case of PM10) indicates their common sources. The enrichment factors (EFs) and significant positive correlation of Al with othe crustal elements (Fe, Ca, Mg, and Ti) of fine and coarse mode aerosols indicate the influence of mineral dust at Darjeeling. Principal component analysis (PCA) resolved the four common sources (biomass burning + fossil fuel combustion (BB + FFC), crustal/soil dust, vehicular emissions (VE), and industrial emissions (IE)) of PM2.5 and PM10 in Darjeeling.

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Data availability

The datasets developed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the Director, CSIR-NPL and Head, Environmental Sciences and Biomedical Division (ES&BMD), CSIR-NPL for their encouragement and support for this study. Authors are also thankful to Mr. Bivek Gurung and Mrs. Yashodhara Yadav, Bose Institute, Darjeeling, for PM sampling and providing the relevant data-sets.

Funding

The authors thankfully acknowledged the Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology (Government of India), New Delhi-110016, India, for providing financial support for this study (DST/CCP/Aerosol/88/2017).

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Conception and design of the study were planned by SKS; data collection and analysis were performed by NV, NC, AR, DS, SM, and AG; the first draft was written by SKS. Data interpretation was carried out by SKS, AC, TKM, and NV. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Sudhir Kumar Sharma.

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Sharma, S.K., Mukherjee, S., Choudhary, N. et al. Seasonal variation and sources of carbonaceous species and elements in PM2.5 and PM10 over the eastern Himalaya. Environ Sci Pollut Res 28, 51642–51656 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-14361-z

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