Monitoring trace elements generated by automobiles: air pollutants with possible health impacts

Abstract

Major transformations in the environmental composition are principally attributable to the combustion of fuels by automobiles. Motorized gasoline-powered two-stroke auto-rickshaws (TSA) and compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered four-stroke auto-rickshaws (FSA) are potential source of air pollution in south Asia and produce toxic amount of particulate matter (PM) to the environment. In this study, we attempted to characterize elemental pollutants from the PM of TSA and FSA using proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analysis. The observations of the existing investigation recognized significant increase in Al (P < 0.05), P (P < 0.01), and Zn (P < 0.01) from the PM samples of FSA. In addition, the concentrations of Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Na and S were also observed exceeding the recommended National Institute for Environmental Studies limits. On the contrary, increased concentration of Sr and V were observed in the PM samples from TSA. It is generally believed that FSA generates smaller amount of PM but data obtained from FSA are clearly describing that emissions from FSA comprised potentially more toxic substances than TSA. The current research is specific to metropolitan population and has evidently revealed an inconsistent burden of exposure to air pollutants engendered by FSA in urban communities, which could lead to the disruption of several biological activities and may cause severe damage to entire ecological system.

A Preliminary Assessment and Control Strategy of Size Segregated Pollutants in Urban and Peri-urban Areas of Metropolitan Faisalabad, Pakistan

“…The environmental assessment report established that PM severe as an environmental and health issue in Pakistan and responsible for 22,000 premature deaths among adults and 700 deaths among children [10,11]. Residents closer to main roads, industrial units and in dense settlements are more susceptible to health problems [12,13,38]. Rapid increase in population and industries have enhanced pollution to manifold for the residents of big dense population city like Faisalabad.…”

Urban Emission Patterns at a Semi-Arid Site in Lahore, Pakistan

“…In a recent study on some metals in the vehicular exhaust emissions of rickshaws, it has been discovered that a significant boost has been found in Al, P, and Zn in the PM samples of four-stroke Rickshaws [25]. In another study in Beijing, perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are found in ambient PM 2.5 , PM 10 , and TSP [26].…”