Effect of seasonal variation on dust samples of a winter fog affected urban environment of India,South East Asia

Physical and chemical characteristics of leaf dust (LD) samples, collected between 2011 and 2013, of a severely winter fog affected and polluted urban environment (Allahabad, India) of Indo-Gangetic plain are presented in this study. The weather changes in the study area are grouped into three effective annual seasonal periods – winter fog, pre-monsoon and post-monsoon. The pronounced impact of seasonal variations is observed in LD characteristics, as ~46% of the winter fog period samples ranges in size between 2.5 and 20 µm with high magnetic susceptibility (up to 938.22 × 10^?8 m³ kg^?1). In comparison, 35% of the LD from pre-monsoon period occurs in the size range of 100–300 µm with low magnetic susceptibility (up to 43.29 × 10^?8 m³ kg^?1). The fractal analysis involving submicroscopic clast dimension of LD also reveals a seasonal influence. The toxic metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni) in LD belonging to winter fog and post-monsoon periods increase in comparison to samples from pre-monsoon time. Multivariate statistical analysis of trace element data suggests that the LD collected from winter fog and post-monsoon periods originate predominantly from anthropogenic source, whereas those collected during pre-monsoon owe their origin to crustal and anthropogenic sources, mainly. The present study has demonstrated the role of seasonal variation in controlling the physical and chemical properties of particulate matter based on multiple parameter analyses, and the derivation of the dust load from a mixed source (upper continental crust, anthropogenic and vehicular) for the study area for the first time.