Measurement of dust fall at various locations of Lahore Dr. Amir Farooq, Muzaffar Ahmad, Hafiz Qasim Ali*, Mahrukh Khan Department of Civil Engineering, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT *Corresponding Author: The current research is done in order to evaluate the concentrations of particulate matter in various [email protected] major areas of Lahore and its effects on human health. Pakistan, specifically Lahore, was once an DOI: agricultural city but now due to urbanization it is slowly shifting its economic base towards 10.24081/nijesr.2018.1.0008 industry. Therefore air pollution has emerged a lot of problems. Dust fall varies with that of temperature. It is directly related to temperature. According to our research, the most polluted areas Keywords: in Lahore are commercial sites with dust fall level of 3.97 g/m2/day, after that industrial sites with Prticulate matter, NEQS, Fuel 3.68 g/m2/day dust fall level, and lastly residential sites with the dust fall concentration of 1.96 adulteration, Cardio vascular. g/m2/day. This study shall provide the reasons for the high values of particulate matter and guidelines for optimizing the fall out dust I. INTRODUCTION to be the greatest during midday on sunny days. The guard In urban areas, air pollution is a result of industrial cells are more likely to be open under these conditions and thus revolution. Since towns and cities are characterized by heavy allow pollutant to enter the leaf. Plant growth may be inhibited traffic volume, dense population and activities related to trade by continuous exposure to 0.5 ppm of NO2. Levels of NO2 in such as industrial activities, therefore they are affected by high excess of 2.5 ppm for periods of four hours or more are levels of dust particles [1]. Air pollution is one of the rapid required to produce necrosis (Surface spotting due to growing environmental problems in Pakistan. Inefficient use plasmolysis or loss of protoplasm). The net result of air of energy, increase in industrial activity and increase in pollutant damage goes beyond the apparent superficial damage vehicles with inadequate air control or air emission treatment, to the leaves. A reduction in surface area results in less growth open burning of solid waste and use of ozone depleting and small fruit. For commercial crops this results in a direct substances are some of the causes of deterioration of air reduction in income for the farmers. For other plants the net quality [2]. Dust is also considered a transporter of organic and result is likely to be an early death [7] inorganic pollutants and is exposed to humans daily without Pakistan is an urbanized country with a population of any protection. It has adverse effects on our health especially 180.71 million and has an area of 7696095 Km2. Air pollution its chemical compounds and ions [3]. A human cannot survive is exceeding these days as a result of rapid industrialization. The without clean air. It is essential more than water and food. On major sources of air pollution in Pakistan are motor vehicles, average, an adult breathe 15kg of air in 24 hours. Air is of smoke, industrial activities, open burning of solid waste significant importance, especially when it comes to human including plastics and use of ODSs [8]. Rapid urbanization is a health, but at present unclean air is becoming a worldwide process that involves industrial development and hence issue. And about thousands of people are being effected from increases population which results in an increased air pollution this problem each year [4]. Dust, has considerable effect not problems [9]. Pakistan’s air pollution is most severe in South only on humans but also on earth’s natural environment. It Asia due to increased urbanization and rapid motorization [10]. alters the chemical composition, global radiative balance and According to a study, there are some of the elements found in ocean primary productivity [5]. Particulate Matter is less traces in dust such as Zinc, Lead, Chromium etc. and dispersed in winter season than during summer season. Strong concentration of these trace metals are higher in lower plains winds cause more dispersion of PM, this increases the than in the mountainous areas of Pakistan [11]. The World Bank concentrations of PM [6]. in 2006, has estimated an annual environmental degradation Like human skin, in young plants the cell wall is thin cost of about Rs. 365 billion. It is estimated that health cost due and gradually thickens with the passage of time. Protoplast to urban particulate matter pollution is around Rs. 65 billion and (protoplasm of one cell) consists of water, protein, fats, and indoor air pollution cost approximately Rs.67 billion. PM2.5 carbohydrates. The nucleus contains the hereditary material consists of various organic and inorganic matter that can be (DNA), which controls the operation of the cell. Ozone produced from both natural and anthropogenic source [12]. deteriorates the palisade cells and as a result chloroplast Particulate matter, have diameter ranging between liquidize and ultimately the cell walls collapse. This results in ~0.002µm and ~100µm [13]. The massive increase in the formation of red-brown spots that turn white after a few population, industrialization, energy use and number of days. The white spots are called Fleck. Ozone injury appears vehicles on road, yearly has increased the air pollution to an alarming level. This increased pollution has been linked with 66 the health of public, causing various adverse health effects 5 liters. Before sampling, the collectors were cleaned and including pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases [14]. washed with detergents. The opening of collectors were According to a research, air pollution has prompted covered with steel lids to protect them from contaminations. approximately 22,000 premature expirations among adults and Copper sulphate can be used as an algaecide if available. A 700 among youngsters [12]. dustfall collector jar is shown in figure: 1. Table 1: Approximate Number of vehicles in Pakistan City Islamabad Lahore Karachi Cars 101,513 801,403 576,587 Motor 334,249 18,94,324 616,631 Cycles Pickups 28,387 78,621 50,527 Trucks 9,271 22,772 20,076 Buses 12,638 36,841 13,350 Auto 8,081 113,007 42,828 Rickshaws II. MATERIALS AND METHODS The air quality monitored was carried out in Lahore – capital of Punjab. It is located at 31°32’ N and 74°22’ E. It has an area of approximately 332km2 which has been extended to 1000 km2 due to urbanization (Anjum Rasheed, 2015). Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan with the population of about 7.01 million. There are about 2.7 million motor vehicles and approximately 1986 industries in the city (Stastics, 2012). Lahore is located at an elevation of 217m above sea level. The climate of this city is hot semi-arid with monsoon season and dry winter (Anjum Rasheed, 2015). The monitoring sites Figure 1: Dust fall Collector selected for this research were Thokar Niaz Baig, Mall road, The empty weight of collectors were determined before they Canal Road, Link road Modal Town and Chauburji which are were placed for sampling. After 2 weeks the weight of sample commercial areas of the city. Similarly the residential areas (water + dust particles) was determined and the amount of dust selected were Allama Iqbal town, Samanabad, DHA, Faisal was obtained. Town, Taj bagh and for industrial areas Bund Road, Sundar Estate and Quaid e Azam Industrial estate were selected. The major pollution sources in these areas were traffic movement, constructional works and industrial activities. Figure 2 shows the map of sampling sites. Some of the devices that can be used to measure fallout dust are Portable Particulate monitor, Dust Profiler, Dust sentry [15]. Data Collection Data was collected by sampling in open area, away from high buildings. The collectors were cylindrical in shape with opening of 15cm in diameter, height of 30cm and were fabricated with Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE) plastic. Each cylindrical collector was erected on a 1.2 m high stand made of mild steel. The PETE Plastic collector had a capacity of almost 67 out in the area and vehicular emission which were the causes of high dust fall i.e. 3.43 g/m2/day. DHA is a well-developed residential area therefore dust fall rate was as low as 0.68 g/m2/day. Table 2: Dust fall levels and mean temperature of sites Temperature Dust fall Sr. Area # (g/m2/day (°C) ) 1 Thokar Niaz Baig 11.35 33 2 Mall Road 0.79 28 3 Canal Road 2.73 32 Link Road Model 4 1.62 30 Town 5 Chauburji 3.34 32 Figure 2: Sampling sites 6 Allama Iqbal Town 3.42 32 III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS 7 DHA 0.68 29 The results of different sampling sites are tabulated in table 2. The aim of this study was to determine the rate of 8 Faisal Town 1.18 28 dustfall in various areas of Lahore and the effect of temperature variation on it. The sampling was carried out during summer 9 Samnabad 1.05 28 season of 2017. The average dust fall measured at Thokar Niaz Baig was 10 Taj Bagh 3.49 32 11.35 g/m2/day. It had high dustfall rate as the area was under construction and the weather was windy during sampling 11 Bund Road 5.67 34 period. Also it is one of the busiest roads of Lahore that 12 Sundar Estate 3.33 35 experiences high traffic volume all the day. Quaid-e-Azam The average dustfall measured at Mall road was 0.79 13 2.03 34 g/m2/day.