Characterization of airborne dust samples collected from core areas of Kathmandu Valley

A study on airborne dust in Kathmandu Valley reveals the presence of asbestiform minerals, characterized by high aspect ratios, alongside clay, crystalline silicate, and carbonate minerals. Using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDX), researchers identified quartz with high crystallinity and variable elemental distributions, including C, O, Mg, Ca, and Si. Notably, some minerals in the dust samples were also found in cement, suggesting construction materials as a potential source of airborne pollutants. This research provides critical insights into the mineralogical composition of particulate matter in one of the world's most polluted urban areas.

Neupane, B. B., Sharma, A., Giri, B., & Joshi, M. K. (2020). Characterization of airborne dust samples collected from core areas of Kathmandu Valley. Heliyon, 6(4), e03791. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e03791