Spatial distribution and morphometric and mineralogical features of air dust pollution in the impact zone of Trypilska Thermal Power Station

Abstract

Spatial distribution of atmospheric dust pollution, dispersion, chemical composition and morphometric and mineralogical features of dust from fly ash of Trypilska Thermal Power Station (TPS) were investigated. Analytical data are analysed on the content of suspended particles from the air within the influence zone of TPS (10 km). As research material, dust was collected from the air and leaves of Amaranthus. Distribution maps of air dust pollution were constructed by Inverse Distance Weighted method of interpolation in ArcGIS 9.2, depending on the disperse composition of the particles. According to the index of the atmosphere pollution (the value of the MPC — in accordance to State Sanitary Regulations-201-97, RD 52.04.186-89 and the norms recommended by the WHO), the research area corresponds to an unacceptable level of pollution and a highly dangerous degree of contamination by the content of suspended particles with undifferentiated composition (dust). The most dustpolluted air is in the area of Trypillia, Obukhiv and Ukrainka. From the spatial structure of the dust pollution field of the atmosphere, it can be assumed that air dust pollution is mostly (80–90 %) caused by the emissions of Trypilska TPS. According to the study results, it was found that suspended particles undifferentiated by composition are mainly finely divided (less than 10 μm) fractions of silicates (aluminosilicates), sulphur crystals (sulphides, sulphates), zirconium oxides with copper, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, sulphur, chlorine, single phosphorus inclusions and fluoride. The shape of dust particles is predominantly conglomerate-like with the adherence of fine particles of different shapes from perfectly spherical to fragile with sharp edges. The content of silicon dioxide in the chemical composition of dust reaches 70–20 %. The presence of zirconium and “reactive silica” in the content of studied dust confirms its mainly artificial genesis. Inhalation of dust fly ash from Trypilska TPS represents a significant environmental threat for the population of the 10 km zone in terms of development of respiratory diseases such as fibrosis, granuloma, and silicosis.

Keywords

• air pollution
• dust
• fly ash
• trypilska tps
• silicates
• zirconium oxides
• “reactive silica”