Chemical characterization and enrichment of selected toxic elements in ambient particulate matter around a slag based cement plant in chhattisgarh state-A case study

376-382 Cement plants are one of the major emissions sources of toxic metal loaded particulate matter. The work describes a study conducted for a slag based cement plant located in southeastern part of Chhattisgarh State. Samples of Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (RSPM) and Non-Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter (NRSPM) were collected and analyzed for selected toxic elements. Results indicated a high contribution of toxic elements in the ambient particulate matter by the stack emissions from the selected cement plant. The order of concentration of the elements analyzed in ambient particulate matter is found to be Ca > Mg > Fe > Al > Na > K > Mn > Cr > Ni > Cu > Zn > Co > Pb > Hg > Cd. Good positive correlation coefficient values were found for RSPM and metal concentration. Almost all the elements have shown higher enrichment factor values. Higher spatial variability values were obtained for RSPM metal concentration than NRSPM metal concentration.