Assessment of atmospheric arsenic level in airborne dust particulates of an urban city of central India

An assessment of arsenic contamination in Raipur city (21 degree 14'N, 18 degree 38'E) of Chhattisgarh in the central part of India is reported here, for a monitoring period between November 1996 to June 1997, in airborne dust particulates. The concentration level of As were higher in the industrial site, followed by heavy traffic as compared to other sites. The monthly atmospheric arsenic deposition, in mu g As per g of dust fall, of 6 sites are in the range of 0.100( mu 0.020)-4.00( mu 0.020); site no. 1 industrial area, 0.100( mu 0.020)-0.320( mu 0.020); site no. 2 residential area, 0.044( mu 0.070)-0.337( mu 0.030); site no. 3 commercial area, 0.093( mu 0.068)-1.870( mu 0.020); site no. 4 residential area, 0.111( mu 0.020)-1.912( mu 0.010); site no. 5 residential area and 0.068( mu 0.040)-3.037( mu 0.060); site no. 6 heavy traffic area. The total annual flux of As in the fall-out at different zones is in the range 0.033-1.12 kg km super(-2) yr super(-1). The month wise collection and analysis of dust fall out rate between 3.0( mu 0.10)-91.3( mu 1.4) mt (metric tonnes) km super(-2) month super(-1) were observed at all 6 sampling sites. Anthropogenic and environmental factors play important roles in the contribution of arsenic in airborne particulate matters.