New Delhi: A study led by Iit-Kanpur and supported by the Central Policy Control Agency (CPCB) has found the burning of biomass materials and industrial emissions into the biggest contributors in fog in the city during the post-monsoon and winter months.
This study, titled “Biomass Burning effect on the composition of PM2.5 and secondary aerosol formations during the post-monsoon episode and winter fog in Delhi”, carried out on two sites – Pusa and Iit-Delhi – from October 2019 to January 2020.
Research shows That during the post-monsoon period, namely, the end of October to mid-November, the fog was due to the majority of biomass burning particles, the possibility of burning agricultural residues in neighboring Delhi countries.
This study provides an emphasis on the use of alternative methods of disposal of agricultural waste, such as composting.
The winter period, i.e, at the end of November and December, saw the formation of sulfate water and ammonium nitrate, indicating industrial emissions, according to Tripathi Nand Sachchida from the Civil Engineering Department in Iit-Kanpur and appropriate research writers.
“This study connects industrial emissions with blurred periods, but the study did not explore the type of industry as it caused the fog,” Tripathi said.
In January, winter fog episodes were largely caused by burning biomass, this time from local sources such as wood burning, coal or roadside waste for heating or cooking purposes.
“Strict control of roadside combustion and amplification of subsidized fuel cleaning distribution to low-income households can help control high organic levels related to burning biomass,” said this study.
Winter fog particles contain inorganic “significant” materials, including ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and aerosol ammonium chloride, apart from old organic, research is revealed.
It also suggests that aging late night Biomass combustion contributes to the rapid formation of organic and inorganic particles, causing fog.
According to Tripathi, burning dominant biomass during all fog periods.
“However, emissions undergo oxidation of fast night time, produce high organic and secondary inorganic results,” he added.
This study, which has been received in the Journal of Geophysics Research: Atmospheric, uses two instruments – aerosol mass spectrometer high resolution time (HR-TOF-AMS) and mass spectrometers of proton transfer reactions (PTR-MS).
“Although some studies have connected fog and burning biomass using speculative models, this study is based on instruments,” Tripathi said.