Insight into monsoon for shaping the air quality of Islamabad, Pakistan: Comparing the magnitude of health risk associated with PM10 and PM2.5 exposure

Characteristics and health implications of fine particulate matter near urban road site in Islamabad, Pakistan

The escalating issue of air pollution has become a significant concern in urban regions, including Islamabad, Pakistan, due to the rise in air pollutant emissions driven by economic and industrial expansion. To gain a deeper understanding of air pollution, a study was conducted during winter 2022-2023, assessing physical, chemical, and biological factors in Islamabad. The findings revealed that the average concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was notably greater than the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, reaching 133.39 μg/m³. Additionally, the average concentration of bacteria (308.64 CFU/m³) was notably greater than that of fungi (203.55 CFU/m³) throughout the study. Analytical analyses, including SEM-EDS and FTIR, showed that the PM2.5 in Islamabad is composed of various particles such as soot aggregates, coal fly ash, minerals, bio-particles, and some unidentified particles. EF analysis distinguished PM2.5 sources, enhancing understanding of pollutants origin, whereas Spearman's correlation analysis elucidated constituent interactions, further explaining air quality impact. The results from the Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) indicated a gradual increase in the total elemental composition of PM2.5 from autumn to winter, maintaining high levels throughout the winter season. Furthermore, a significant variation was found in the mass concentration of PM2.5 when comparing samples collected in the morning and evening. The study also identified the presence of semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in PM2.5 samples, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phenolic compounds, with notable variations in their concentrations. Utilizing health risk assessment models developed by the US EPA, we estimated the potential health risks associated with PM2.5 exposure, highlighting the urgency of addressing air quality issues. These findings provide valuable insights into the sources and composition of PM2.5 in Islamabad, contributing to a comprehensive understanding of air quality and its potential environmental and health implications.

First temporal distribution model of ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, and O3) in Yangon City, Myanmar during 2019-2021

Air pollution has emerged as a significant global concern, particularly in urban centers. This study aims to investigate the temporal distribution of air pollutants, including PM2.5, PM10, and O3, utilizing multiple linear regression modeling. Additionally, the research incorporates the calculation of the Air Quality Index (AQI) and Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) time series modeling to predict the AQI for PM2.5 and PM10. The concentrations and AQI values for PM2.5 ranged from 0 to 93.6 μg/m3 and 0 to 171, respectively, surpassing the Word Health Organization's (WHO) acceptable threshold levels. Similarly, concentrations and AQI values for PM10 ranged from 0.1 to 149.27 μg/m3 and 2-98 μg/m3, respectively, also exceeding WHO standards. Particulate matter pollution exhibited notable peaks during summer and winter. Key meteorological factors, including dew point temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall, showed a significant negative association with all pollutants, while ambient temperature exhibited a significant positive correlation with particulate matter. Multiple linear regression models of particulate matter for winter season demonstrated the highest model performance, explaining most of the variation in particulate matter concentrations. The annual multiple linear regression model for PM2.5 exhibited the most robust performance, explaining 60% of the variation, while the models for PM10 and O3 explained 45% of the variation in their concentrations. Time series modeling projected an increasing trend in the AQI for particulate matter in 2022. The precise and accurate results of this study serve as a valuable reference for developing effective air pollution control strategies and raising awareness of AQI in Myanmar.

Evaluation of air quality and health risks associated with trace elements in respirable particulates (PM2.5) from Islamabad, Pakistan

Fine atmospheric particulates are associated with numerous environmental and health issues as they can penetrate deeply in the respiratory tract thereby adversely affecting the human health. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of trace elements in the respirable (PM2.5) fraction of the atmospheric particulates and to understand their pollution status and health risks. The samples were collected from Islamabad, and the metals were extracted using HNO3 and HCl based extraction method. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was employed to quantify the concentrations of selected trace elements. PM2.5 exhibited considerable variations in their minimum (4.737 µg/m3) and maximum (108.1 µg/m3) levels. The significant contributors among the selected elements bound to PM2.5 were Ca (1016 ng/m3), K (759.8 ng/m3), Mg (483.0 ng/m3), Fe (469.7 ng/m3), and Zn (341.1 ng/m3), while Ag (0.578 ng/m3) was found at the lowest levels with an overall descending order: Ca > K > Mg > Fe > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd > Mn > Sr > Cr > Co > Li > Ag. Multivariate PCA and CA identified industrial activities, combustion processes and automobile emissions as the main anthropogenic contributors to particulate pollution. Enrichment factors and geoaccumulation indices were computed to assess the pollution status. The results also revealed that among the trace elements, Cd showed extremely high contamination, followed by Ag, Zn, and Pb, which showed moderate to high contamination in the atmospheric particulates. Carcinogenic health risks from Pb and Ni were found to be within the safe limit (1.0 × 10-6); however, Cr, Co, and Cd exposure was linked to significant cancer risks. The present elemental levels in PM2.5 were also compared with the reported levels from other regions around the world.

Lockdown Amid COVID-19 Ascendancy over Ambient Particulate Matter Pollution Anomaly

Air is a diverse mixture of gaseous and suspended solid particles. Several new substances are being added to the air daily, polluting it and causing human health effects. Particulate matter (PM) is the primary health concern among these air toxins. The World Health Organization (WHO) addressed the fact that particulate pollution affects human health more severely than other air pollutants. The spread of air pollution and viruses, two of our millennium's most serious concerns, have been linked closely. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can spread through the air, and PM could act as a host to spread the virus beyond those in close contact. Studies on COVID-19 cover diverse environmental segments and become complicated with time. As PM pollution is related to everyday life, an essential awareness regarding PM-impacted COVID-19 among the masses is required, which can help researchers understand the various features of ambient particulate pollution, particularly in the era of COVID-19. Given this, the present work provides an overview of the recent developments in COVID-19 research linked to ambient particulate studies. This review summarizes the effect of the lockdown on the characteristics of ambient particulate matter pollution, the transmission mechanism of COVID-19, and the combined health repercussions of PM pollution. In addition to a comprehensive evaluation of the implementation of the lockdown, its rationales-based on topographic and socioeconomic dynamics-are also discussed in detail. The current review is expected to encourage and motivate academics to concentrate on improving air quality management and COVID-19 control.

Polyethylene scaffold net and synthetic grass fragmentation: a source of microplastics in the atmosphere?

Microplastics (MPs) implications in the atmosphere are of current global concern. Currently, there is a growing interest regarding source appointment, fate, level of toxicity, and exposure intensity of ambient air MPs. Recent data suggest that polyethylene (PE) dominates ambient MPs in China's megacities. Albeit understanding of PE sources is limited and restricted to typical sources polluting terrestrial and marine environments. However, the air is a distinct environmental component and may have some separate pollution sources as well as the relative contribution of different sources could also contrast in different environments. Urbanization and fast construction activity resulting from increased economic growth in these places might be a potential source of ambient PE. Recently, the use of scaffold netting on construction sites and synthetic grass as land covering sheets has been on the rise. Generally, these PE items are often inferior and composed of recycled material, making them more prone to degradation. Also, because these items were continually exposed to open air, there is a considerable risk of fragmentation and atmospheric mixing. Therefore, unchecked and excessive usage of these materials can be risky. Here, PE's physical and chemical characteristics, transport and health risks in urban air are discussed here.

Assessing Health Damages from Improper Disposal of Solid Waste in Metropolitan Islamabad–Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Rapid urbanization in developing countries leads to a dramatic increase in solid waste production, with serious socio-economic and ecological impacts. In order to avoid the associated hazards, particularly those related to human health and the environment, solid waste management is indispensable. Disposal of municipal waste that predominantly comprises household and commercial refuse has become a daunting task for local governments and municipalities of Pakistan. Issues related to both inadequacy of service delivery and inappropriate disposal signify that waste management should be high on the local environment policy agenda. In particular, the external cost of waste management is high, and cost recovery of refuse collection may cause the exclusion of many households and additional costs on the households that avail themselves of the service. In this study, we carried out an evaluation of the health damage caused by improper waste disposal in a sample of heterogeneous households. The study shows a framework for evaluating the damages caused by inadequate waste management practices. The results indicate that irregular disposal in the vicinity of residents causes illness: respondents living within 100 m are more vulnerable to malaria, dengue, and asthma than those living more than 500 m away. Moreover, the findings highlight that households lack knowledge of waste hazards and 75.9% of waste is not segregated. We suggest a subsidized waste collection and disposal service provided either by the local government or by outsourcing.