Assessment of In-Plant Particulate Matter and its Toxic Metals Contents of Sponge Iron Industry in Goa, India

The present study attempted to assess toxic metal contents (Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Cobalt, Chromium, Iron, Manganese, Nickel, Lead and Zinc) in Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) and Particulate Matter less than ten micron (PM10) in three sponge iron industries in Goa (India), one of the famous tourist place on the World map. TSP and PM10 average concentration in all three sponge iron industries were found to be in the range 401–485 lg/m3 and 135–270 lg/m3 respectively. Amongst all the metals, concentration of iron was the highest in TSP as well as in PM10. Statistical results indicate that proportion of specific metals were found higher in PM10 as compared to the ratio of PM10/TSP ratio. Value of correlation coefficient was found to be significant for Cr–Pb indicating coal burning was the major source contributor