Determination of particulate matter fractions pm2.5, pm10 and co2 in urban schools in Imphal, India

Abstract

Measurements were carried out to determine the PM2.5, PM10 and, CO2 levels in schools located in the urban areas of Imphal, Manipur. The particulate matters (PM2.5 and PM10) were monitored gravimetrically with standardised particulate samplers, while the CO2 in the air was measured by gas chromatography. Average PM2.5 and PM10 concentration in the classrooms was 41.0 ± 9.0 µg/m3 and 79.4 ± 20.2 µg/m3, respectively, and it was comparatively higher than the outdoor concentration of 34.8 ± 8.0 µg/m3 and 64.7 ± 18.9 µg/m3, respectively. The average concentration of CO2 in the indoor and outdoor air was 1250.6 ± 131.3 ∙ 103 µg/m3 and 885.7 ± 94.7 ∙103 µg/m3. The highest levels of PM2.5 (58.3 µg/m3), PM10 (112.5 µg/m3) and CO2 (1457.5 ∙ 103 µg/m3) were recorded indoors, in a school located at the heart of the city, whereas the lowest levels of PM2.5 (25.0 µg/m3), PM10 (45.8 µg/m3) and CO2 (1045.7 ∙ 103 µg/m3) were recorded in a school located away from the city centre. The levels of PM2.5 and PM10 in the air were found to exceed the permissible limits prescribed by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards in more than half of the sampling. There was a strong positive correlation between indoor and outdoor pollutant concentrations.