International Journal of Physical Sciences Vol. 2(5), pp. 076-088, May 2014 ISSN 2331-1827 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Compandium of sampling methods for the determination of compound phases and trace metals in suspended particulate matter

Naveed Ahmad¹, Muhammad Attique Khan Shahid²*, Khadim Hussain³ and Nasir Ahmad⁴

¹Department of Physics, University of Education, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

²Department of Physics, UDC, GCU, Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan.

³Centre for High Energy Physics, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

⁴Institute of Geology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: profkhan786@yahoo.com.

Accepted 23 April, 2014

Abstract

Air quality of Lahore, a heavily populated city of the Punjab, was determined collecting samples of different types. The study was carried out on samples collected during December 2001 to January 2002. Indoor suspended particles using AC filters were also collected along with dust from room carpets. Eight-hourly average loading of outdoor suspended particulate matter (SPM) was found to be in the range of 670 to 1523 μg/m³. Twenty-four hourly bulk deposition of free fall dust was found to be varying from 16 to 60 gm/m²/month. Minerals, such as Quartz, Illite, Cholrite, Calcite, Albite, etc., were detected in all samples (SPM, free-fall dust, indoor suspended particles samples and carpet dust) using the Powder method. Elemental loadings of all samples were determined employing the atomic absorption spectroscopy. Cu, Ni, Cd, Zn and Pb were detected in all the samples. Since there are no ambient air quality standards enacted in Pakistan, a comparison with ambient air quality standards (WHO, USA, and Europe) showed that loading of airborne particulate matter were several times higher than the maximum permissible limits accepted there as standard. In this study, the Pb concentration was found to range from 1 to 9.8 μg/m³; Cu, Ni, Zn and Cd were within the permissible levels.

Key words: SPM, air pollution, free fall dust, trace elements, XRD, atomic absorption spectroscopy.