Air quality modeling for impact evaluation of a mica, feldspar, and quartz mine in Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, India

The dust emission from the mining area is the primary source of air pollution for the surrounding environment. This paper deals with the study of baseline air quality assessment and air pollution modeling exercise for a mica, feldspar, and quartz mine to predict the maximum dust concentration from the mine with and without control measures. Baseline PM10, PM2.5, SO2, and NO2 levels in the bufer zone of the planned mine site were found to be 53.1–79.5, 20.2–43.2, 16.6–31.2, and 21.2–50.1 mg m−3, respectively, and these values were lesser than the corresponding permissible limit of 100, 60, 80, and 80 µg m−3. The respective predicted PM10 and PM2.5 levels will be 73.9–97.1 and 31.9–44.2 mg m−3 without control measures, and 73.5–82.5 and 31.8–43.8 µg m−3 with control measures during operation of the mine. It is estimated that PM10and PM2.5 will remain below the permissible limit in the buffer zone of the mine. The paper suggests effective air pollution control measures, including a description of the developed smart dry fog dust suppression system and wirelessly controlled sprinkling system for applications at various dust emitting sources in the mining area