India, heavily reliant on coal for power generation, has been a significant emitter of particulate matter (PM) bound lead (Pb) and other heavy metals. It is crucial to understand whether implementation of stricter norms in recent years have effectively reduced emissions from coal combustion. This study aims to investigate and quantify the primary sources of PM_2.5 in an area housing a major lignite-fired power plant in South India using Pb isotopic compositions and elemental concentrations. Characteristic ratios such as V/Pb and Cu/Pb demonstrate negligible influence from coal combustion, and indicate that summer aerosols are influenced by open burning. In Pb triple-isotope space the PM_2.5 aerosols plot away from coal, overlapping with open burning signatures. These indicate that the atmosphere is predominantly influenced by open burning of solid waste and biomass rather than coal combustion, suggesting a promising decrease in coal emissions. Bayesian mixing model demonstrates that solid waste & biomass burning is the largest anthropogenic contributor towards atmospheric Pb (up to 26%), even in a region of coal combustion and presence of medium and small-scale industries. The dominance of open burning as a pollution source in the vicinity of a lignite fired power plant highlights the necessity for better waste management strategies.

印度严重依赖煤炭发电，一直是颗粒物 （PM） 结合铅 （Pb） 和其他重金属的重要排放国。了解近年来实施更严格的规范是否有效减少了煤炭燃烧产生的排放至关重要。本研究旨在使用 Pb 同位素组成和元素浓度调查和量化印度南部一家主要褐煤发电厂所在地区 PM_2.5 的主要来源。V/Pb 和 Cu/Pb 等特征比值表明，煤炭燃烧的影响可以忽略不计，并表明夏季气溶胶受露天燃烧的影响。在 Pb 三重同位素空间中，PM_2.5 气溶胶远离煤炭，与明燃特征重叠。这些结果表明，大气主要受到固体废物和生物质的露天燃烧的影响，而不是煤炭燃烧，这表明煤炭排放量有望减少。贝叶斯混合模型表明，固体废物和生物质燃烧是大气中铅的最大人为贡献者（高达26%），即使在煤炭燃烧和中小型工业存在的地区也是如此。露天焚烧作为褐煤发电厂附近污染源的主导地位凸显了制定更好的废物管理策略的必要性。