6.1.3 Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)

Ten locations, where the concentration of suspended particulate matter in ambient air was found highest are presented in table 6.5.

Table 6.5 Ten locations having highest concentration of SPM

• The annual mean concentration of SPM exceeded the standard for industrial area at 7 locations in the state of Andhra Pradesh (1), Bihar (1), Punjab (4), and Uttar .Pradesh (1).
• The annual mean concentration of SPM exceeded the standard for residential areas in 37 locations spread over the states of A.P. (1), Bihar (4), Chandigarh (1), Delhi (4), Goa (1), H.P. (1), Karnataka (1), Maharashtra (5), M.P. (2), Punjab (3), Pondichery (1), Rajasthan (5) and Uttar Pradesh (8).
• Two stations in sensitive areas located at Taj Mahal, Agra (U.P.) and Barkhera, Kota (Rajasthan) exceeded the annual mean concentration of SPM.

The details of locations wherein 24-hourly values of SPM exceeded the standards for more than 5% of the times are shown in the Fig. 6.5. Table 6.6 provides the number of stations where either AMC or 24-hourly concentration (more than 5% of the times) exceeded the respective standards. During 1999, three sensitive ( Tajmahal at Agra, Barkhera at Kota and Tekka Bench Ridge at Shimla), 13 industrial and 42 residential locations violated the 24-hourly values of SPM for more than 5% of times.

Fig 6.5 Percent violation of 24-hourly standards (Suspended Particulate Matter)

Table 6.6 Locations where either Annual Mean or 24-hourly Suspended
Particulate Matter concentration violated respective standards

Based on the analysis of air quality data (AMC) at all the monitoring stations and pollution level categorization, the status of SPM during 1999 (Fig. 6.6) is reported to be critical at 24, high at 13 residential, locations and high at 8 industrial locations.

  Fig 6.6 Status of Suspended Particulate Matter level in terms of
critical, high, moderate and low pollution

6.1.4 Summary and Conclusion of Ambient Air Monitoring

• Table 6.7 shows the number of stations violating annual standards and 24-Hourly standards for more than 2% of the times in the year 1999 with respect to individual criteria pollutant. It is quite evident that SPM is the major problem in the residential areas of most of the cities/towns.

Table 6.7 Number of stations violating Annual and 24-hourly standards

• High level of SPM is the most prevalent form of air pollution.
• Motor vehicle is a major and most important source of pollution in almost all the mega cities.
• High domestic use of coal or biomass fuel is still a serious problem resulting in high human exposures to SPM and SO2.
• The current capabilities of the monitoring agencies to monitor, or to collect information on the sources and emissions are inadequate. Therefore, there is an urgent need to strengthen the monitoring programme.