Soni, DK; Dixit, CK; Mishra, RK; Bhargava, SK; Pandey, P; Singh, G
A study was carried out to assess the status of different footprints of pollutants at Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab. Air samples from different locations covering upwind and downwind directions were collected and analyzed for different foot prints of pollutants, that is PM10, Cu, Zn, Ni and benzo(a) pyrene alongwith NO2 and SO2. Water/wastewater analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity, chloride, total hardness, Ca hardness, Mg hardness, Ca-ion, ammonical nitrogen, sulphate, nitrate nitrogen and heavy metals. Ambient air quality with respect to PM10 was found exceeding the prescribed norm whereas other gaseous pollutants were found within the prescribed norms. The concentration of other pollutants, such as benzo(a) pyrene at all locations were found much higher the prescribed annual average standard limit, that is 01 ng/m3. The concentration of nickel at all locations were found exceeding the prescribed limitm, that is 20 ng/m3. Zinc and copper were found in lower side where as iron concentration was found remarkable high at most of locations particularly in down wind direction. Groundwater quality in the Mandi Gobindgarh with respect to conductivity indicates the rich ionic concentrations. Concentration of total suspended solids (TSS), biological oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the wastewater found exceeding the prescribed norms. Due to unplanned industrialization, poor traffic management inadequate pollution control measures deployed in industrial activities, environmental quality of Mandi Gobindgarh has been deteriorated. The study area has been declared as 'critically polluted' area by Central Pollution Control Board, (MoEF and CC), New Delhi, based on its critical environmental conditions of the city. © 2016 - Kalpana Corporation.