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Seasonal variations and source profile of n-alkanes in particulate matter (PM10) at a heavy traffic site, Delhi

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Abstract

Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world. The generation of aerosols in the lower atmosphere of the city is mainly due to a large amount of natural dust advection and sizable anthropogenic activities. The compositions of organic compounds in aerosols are highly variable in this region and need to be investigated thoroughly. Twenty-four-hour sampling to assess concentrations of n-alkanes (ng/m3) in PM10 was carried out during January 2015 to June 2015 at Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women (IGDTUW) Campus, Delhi, India. The total average concentration of n-alkanes, 243.7 ± 5.5 ng/m3, along with the diagnostic tools has been calculated. The values of CPI1, CPI2, and CPI3 for the whole range of n-alkanes series, petrogenic n-alkanes, and biogenic n-alkanes were 1.00, 1.02, and 1.04, respectively, and C max were at C25 and C27. Diagnostic indices and curves indicated that the dominant inputs of n-alkanes are from petrogenic emissions, with lower contribution from biogenic emissions. Significant seasonal variations were observed in average concentrations of n-alkanes, which is comparatively higher in winter (187.4 ± 4.3 ng/m3) than during the summer season (56.3 ± 1.1 ng/m3).

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Prof. A.K. Tyagi, Vice Chancellor, GGSIP University, Delhi and Prof. Nupur Prakash, Vice Chancellor, IGDTUW University, Delhi for their consistent encouragement. The authors also wish to thank Dr. Ajay Kumar, Advanced Instrumentation Research Facility (AIRF), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi for providing TD-GC/MS facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, 110078, India

    Sarika Gupta

  2. Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women, Delhi, 110006, India

    Ranu Gadi

  3. CSIR-National Physical Laboratory, Dr. K. S. Krishnan Road, New Delhi, 110012, India

    T.K. Mandal & S.K. Sharma

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  1. Sarika Gupta
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  2. Ranu Gadi
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Gupta, S., Gadi, R., Mandal, T. et al. Seasonal variations and source profile of n-alkanes in particulate matter (PM10) at a heavy traffic site, Delhi. Environ Monit Assess 189, 43 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-016-5756-7

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