Spatial and seasonal variations of particulate matter in the air in residential areas adjacent to the coal mines in Moatize, Mozambique

Abstract

Air is a vital natural environmental component for the existence of human beings and other living organisms. The objective of this study was to spatially determine the concentration levels of the particulate matter generated by the coal mining activity in Moatize. To find out how much of the total suspended particles (TSP) matter was available, dust samples were collected from 5 different residential locations around the coal mining areas. The study covered two seasons of the year, the dry and the rainy of 2015, thus making it possible to observe the seasonality in the study area. The TSP matters were sampled through a PVC membrane (filter) by inert impaction and analyzed using a gravimetric technique. The results obtained indicated that the average annual concentrations of TSP were higher for 25 de Setembro, 154.24 µg/m³ in comparison to the remaining residential locations, such as  Minas Moatize, Liberdade, Carbomoc and Comunidade Cateme, 126,66 µg/m³, 132,40 µg/m³, 133,91 µg/m3 and 4,93 µg/m³, respectively. The average concentration value for the dry period was higher compared to the rainy period. In general, the intensity of pollution caused by dust concentration is significant in sites close to the coal mining area and located in the preferential range of southeastern winds.