Evaluation of Some Heavy Metals Loading During Summer and Winter in Free Fall Atmospheric Dust Nearby Coal-Fired Power Plant in an Industrial City Kota, Rajasthan

Abstract

In this study, 376 free fall atmospheric dust samples were collected at 47 sampling locations in the industrial city of Kota, India, to examine variation in average concentrations of heavy metals in summer and winter months. For anthropogenic heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, and Pb), average concentrations were higher in the winter and lower in the summer. The opposite pattern was seen for crustal metals (Fe and Ca). In both seasons, the average concentrations of heavy metals were in the order Zn > Pb > Cu > Cd. Variations in temperature, relative humidity, wind direction, wind strength, and human activity at sampling locations were the causes of seasonal variations in metal concentrations. Coal combustion at thermal power plant is the common source of anthropogenic metal species as indicated by the enrichment factor and positive correlation between Cu and Cd, Cu and Zn, Cu and Pb, Cd and Zn, Cd and Pb, in both seasons.