ASSESSMENT OF SUSPENDED PARTICULATE MATTERS LEVEL AND ROLE OF VEGETATION IN AMBIENT AIR OF NORTH-EAST BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN
Abstract
The present study was conducted to investigate the distribution of respire-able (RSPM) and total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) in the ambient air of north-east Balochistan (Quetta, Zhob and Loralai), Pakistan. The samples were collected by standard methods for a period of one year (2012). Observation exhibited that at Quetta city the annual average contents of RSPM& TSPM ranged from 238-661.5?g/m3& 3984.5-5210.5?g/m3 in residential (non-green) areas, where as in green belt areas of the same city it was 70-451?g/m3 to 2037-3340.5?g/m3. In Zhob city the annual average values of RSPM & TSPM in residential (non-green) areas was ranged from 200.5-477?g/m3& 2743-3113?g/m3, while in green belt area it was found from 74.5-357?g/m3 to 1726-2194.5?g/m3. The atmosphere of Loralai city exhibited 135-383?g/m3 for RSPM and 1826.5-2150?g/m3for TSPM at residential (non-green) area, whereas in green belt area it was 71.5-346?g/m3 to 1374-1700.5?g/m3. The 24–h TSPM and RSPM levels measured during the current study were found to be significantly higher than WHO and USEPA standard values. Present study also revealed that TSPM & RSPM values in green belt areas of all three investigated cities are increasing. But in the residential areas, as there is no particulate emission control the level of SPM are in critical level. Among the investigated cities the decreasing trend of average particulate matters (TSPM and RSPM) revealed the following order: Quetta >Zhob>Loralai.
