Analysing Elemental Compositions and Origins of Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5) in Faridabad, Haryana (India)

In the present investigation, elemental concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM) were examined in Faridabad, a heavily polluted city of, Haryana, India from July 2022 to July 2023 at 2 representative sampling sites. The mean mass concentration (± standard deviation) of PM over the period of the investigation was calculated to be 108 ± 16 µg m at site 1 and 154 ± 11 µg m at site 2. PM mass concentrations of both the sites surpassing the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) limit (for 24 h: 60 µg m and for annual:40 µg m) during the study. Throughout the study period, 41 elements at Site 1 (designated as institutional) and 43 elements at Site 2 (designated as residential) in PM were extracted using a Wavelength-dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (WD-XRF). The annual mean concentrations of elements composition of PM accounted for 14.9% at site 1 and 16.9% at site 2. The seasonal mass concentrations of PM for both the study sites exhibited at the order of post-monsoon (site 1: 197 ± 29 µg m; site 2: 236 ± 12 µg m) > winter (167 ± 11 µg m; site 2: 236 ± 9 µg m) > summer (87 ± 8µg m; site 2: 104 ± 4 µg m) > monsoon (48 ± 2 µg m; site 2: 86 ± 5 µg m). Cl, K, Fe, S, and Si are the major elements observed at site 1, and Si, K, Fe, S, Cl, Ca, and Al are at site 2, followed by elevated levels of other minor elements at both sites. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) determined five primary sources [crustal dust (site 1: 22%; site 2: 23%), combustion (site 1: 18%; site 2: 18%), biomass burning (site 1: 19%; site 2: 15%), industrial emissions (site 1: 22%; site 2: 29%), and mixed source (site 1: 19%; site 2: 15%)] of PM from both the sites in Faridabad, Haryana.