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Characterization of organic contaminants associated with road dust of Delhi NCR, India

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Abstract

Hydrophobic organic contaminated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and CHNS (carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen and sulphur species) are explosively associated with road dust particles. A few organic contaminants are toxic in nature and have an unpleasant effect on human health. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the United States–Environmental Protection Agency has considered several PAHs and PCBs as carcinogens for human beings. In the proposed study, the anthropogenic contaminants present in road dust were assessed in six representative diversified sites i.e. industrial, commercial, office, residential, construction and traffic intersection in Delhi NCR, India. Roadside dust samples were gathered in premonsoon, monsoon and postmonsoon seasons and characterized for PAHs, PCBs and CHNS. The concentration of total PAHs (16 Nos) and PCBs (6 Nos) of the selected sites ranged from 0.27 µg/kg to 605.80 µg/kg and 0.01 µg/kg to 41.26 µg/kg, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-attenuated total reflectance study suggested that the presence of O = C = O, Si–O, carbonyl, acidic or aliphatic esters group were associated with road dust particles. Hydrogen and sulphur concentrations were not detected in the selected road dust samples. Carbon and nitrogen concentrations varied from 2.24% to 16.82% and 0.69% to 14.5%, respectively, seasonally. In the premonsoon season, road dust was distinguishably contaminated as compared to monsoon and postmonsoon season, which might be due to movement of contaminated road dust from adjacent locations. It was perceived that Delhi NCR organic contamination in road dust was much below as compared to other countries. It may be concluded that due to the presence of significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen concentrations in the road dust, to a greater extent, road dust can be fertile and might be advantageous for green belt development to mitigate air pollution. The utilization of road dust will further bring down the burden of landfill sites and may lead towards sustainability.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express thanks to Director, CSIR-NEERI and CSIR-NPL for support and continuous motivation. The author, Tarang K. Gondwal, expresses thanks to Widmans Laboratory, Gurugram, Haryana, for sponsorship. The authors are thankful to Dr SR Dhakate, Dr S.P. Singh and Mrs Shaveta Sharma for helping in the characterization of road dust. The authors also thank the Quality Research & Analytical Labs Pvt. Ltd. Patparganj, New Delhi, and M/s Aashvi LLP Ahmadabad for providing testing facilities for PAHs and PCBs.

Funding

Fund was received from CSIR-National Physical Laboratory (New Delhi) to Dr. Papiya Mandal (Project No. OLP-039).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Widmans Laboratory, IMT Manesar, Gurugram, Haryana, 122050, India

    Tarang Kumar Gondwal

  2. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, UP, 201002, India

    Tarang Kumar Gondwal

  3. CSIR-NEERI, Zonal Centre, New Delhi, 110 028, India

    Tarang Kumar Gondwal & Papiya Mandal

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Contributions

Tarang Kr Gondwal: sample collection, preservation of samples, analysis of the samples, data compilation and manuscript writing, preparation of graphs and tables.

Papiya Mandal: conceived the idea, proposed the study, planning, manuscript editing, corrections and submission to the suitable journal.

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Correspondence to Papiya Mandal.

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Gondwal, T.K., Mandal, P. Characterization of organic contaminants associated with road dust of Delhi NCR, India. Environ Sci Pollut Res 30, 51906–51919 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-023-25762-7

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