Description : The present study reports the ambient concentrations of PM10 and associated heavy metals measured at 3 sites in the mining areas of Jharia coalfield during October 2012-February 2013. After acid digestion, quantification of 5 major heavy metals (Co, Cd, Mn, Ni and Pb) was done using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Out of 5 metals studied two metals (Ni and Pb) are criteria pollutants as per NAAQS (2009). As per the magnitude of the mean concentrations, these can be ranked in the following order Mn > Ni > Co > Cd >Pb. PM10 and heavy metals loading in coal mining area was found to be almost 2 times higher than that of control site. The concentration of PM10 and heavy metals observed in present study were compared to those reported previously from other parts of India and the world. For coal mining areas level of these pollutants was found higher than that of most of the cities. Correlation analysis showed strong relationships between Cd–Ni, Ni–Mn, and Cd–Mn.
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