Atmospheric deposition of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in Bombay, India

Abstract

Atmospheric deposition of trace metals like Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn has been studied at Deonar, Bombay during 1988 and 1989. The atmospheric concentrations of these metals at Deonar as well as the levels of total suspended particulate matter (TSPM) at different locations in Bombay were also measured. The bulk deposition flux for these metals was found to vary from 0.3 to 102.1 kg km⁻²yr^–1 while the dry deposition flux varied from 0.2 to 104.6 kg km⁻² yr⁻¹. Deposition velocities for these metals have also been estimated which varied from 0.05 to 2.5 cm s⁻¹. The TSPM levels ranged from 17 to 588 μg m⁻³. The levels of TSPM were found to be at a minimum at Deonar and, as such, this study is believed to indicate representative minimum deposition values for Bombay.