Particulate Matter Concentration and Microbial Load in Heavy Traffic Areas of District Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

A major threat to the environment and public health is air pollution. Previous research has looked at the harmful health impacts of both short- and long-term particulate matter exposure. In addition, PM (particulate matter) of fine or coarse size (PM 2.5 and PM 10) was linearly related with mortality, with PM 2.5 being associated with long-term mortality and PM10 being connected with short-term mortality. Traffic congestion is one of the foremost problems. Objective: To characterize gram positive and gram negative airborne bacteria from air samples of heavy traffic areas. Methods: These were assessed using direct as well as indirect sampling technique. A total of 40 samples 10 from each traffic areas (i.e., Bhatti Gate, Bohr wala chowk, Chauburji and Railway Station) were collected. These were collected with the help of Mini Vol portable air sampler. Filter papers containing particulate matter 2.5 and 10 were placed on prepared petri dishes. The petri dishes were then kept in an incubator for 24 hours at 37 °C, the appearances of colonies were characterized and proceeded for morphological and biochemical identification. Results: The results showed the presence of different bacteria including Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp. Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa. Conclusion: It was found that air was heavily polluted with PM 10 and micrococcus aureus.