Variation in concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 during the four seasons at the Port City of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Abstract

This paper presents a summary of PM2.5, PM10 and gaseous pollutant concentrations measured during each season of the year from March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019 in Visakhapatnam city (17.6868°N, 83.2185°E) located on the east coast of India. The city is studded with 14 major industries and surrounded on three sides by mountains and the Bay of Bengal on the fourth side. The monthly variations of mass concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and gaseous pollutants SO2, NO2 and CO recorded revealed the impact of atmospheric pollutants originating from industry, urbanization and increased automobile traffic. The seasonal variability of PM concentrations, highest in winter and lowest in summer, is observed. The annual averages for 2018 in Visakhapatnam are 103.5 ± 55.1 μg/m3 and 111.5 ± 29.1 μg/m3 for PM2.5 and PM10 respectively. To establish the causal relationship between PM2.5, PM10 and the gaseous pollutants we used Pearson correlation and regression statistical methods. The Pearson correlation coefficients between PMs and gaseous pollutants were either high or moderate. Regression results further confirmed that NO2 and SO2 significantly impacted PM2.5 and PM10 in Visakhapatnam city.