Speciation of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metals in respirable suspended particulate matter (PM10) in Varanasi, India

- New work in the study region of India
- Deals with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metal speciation in respirable PM
- SEM-EDX study was carried out and exposure evaluation was conducted.

Present study deals with the speciation of carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic metal (Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) using sequential extraction procedure (SEP) in ambient air of Varanasi, India. Higher concentration of Fe, Zn and Cu followed by Cr, Mn, Co, Cd and Pb was found in RSPM. Exchangeable fraction was highly significant in all metals except Fe which was dominant in residual fractions. Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) was conducted to assess weight percentage of elements. EDX results revealed that particulate matter collected at Banaras Hindu University (BHU) contain Boron (55.39 wt%) which was absent at other two sites. Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb were present in significant wt% at BHU and Chandpur Industrial Estate. Metals released from anthropogenic activities may cause respiratory and dermal diseases as immediate symptoms. In long term, bioaccumulation and biomagnifications of metals may lead to serious life threatening diseases like cancer.