Browsing by Author "Ali, Zulfiqar"

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    An assessment of air quality within facilities of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) sites in Lahore, Pakistan
    (MDPI, 2021-09-07) Raza, Syed Turab; Hafeez, Sana; Ali, Zulfiqar; Nasir, Zaheer A.; Butt, Muhammad Moeen; Saleem, Irfan; Wu, Jianping; Chen, Zhe; Xu, Yunjian
    The pollutants emission during the process of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) is of great concern due to its hazardous effect on the environment and living organisms. An assessment of the air quality of MSWM sites was made after having 16 repetitive visits at solid waste disposal sites and transfer stations of Lahore during wet and dry seasons. Pollution parameters such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and greenhouse gases (GHG) were measured along with meteorological parameters. PM2.5 measurement was made by using particle counter Dylos and TSI’s Dust Trak. Both of these instruments were positioned simultaneously at the source site and downwind (50 m). CH4 and meteorological parameters were measured by Aeroqual 500 series, while the Extech CO220 monitor was used to measure CO2 concentration. An assessment of air quality showed the levels of their mean values as CH4 and CO2 ranged between 1.5–13.7 ppm and 443.4–515.7 ppm, respectively. The PM2.5 ranged between 127.1 and 307.1 µg/m3 at sources and 172.3 and 403.8 µg/m3 downwind (50 m). GHG showed lower levels than the proposed limit value, which could not cause any health issues, while PM2.5 was 6–10 times higher than the Pak-EPA established standards. Higher pollutant concentration was recorded in the dry season than the wet season. Regression analysis was performed to predict correlation of PM2.5 with GHG and meteorological parameters. GHG as well as meteorological parameters also exhibited a correlation with PM2.5. It was estimated that the ambient air of such sites is not safe for public health. So, it is necessary to use safe practices for MSWM and its emission control to prevent nearby communities and the environment.
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    Assessment of respiratory problems in workers associated with intensive poultry facilities in Pakistan
    (Elsevier, 2020-01-07) Yasmeen, Roheela; Ali, Zulfiqar; Tyrrel, Sean F.; Nasir, Zaheer A.
    Background The poultry industry in Pakistan has flourished since the 1960s; however, there are scarce data regarding the impact of occupational exposure on the pulmonary health of farm workers in terms of years working in the industry. The objective of the present study was to assess the effect of poultry environment on the health of occupationally exposed poultry farmers in countries of warm climatic regions, such as Pakistan. This study will also show the effect of exposure to poultry facilities on the health of poultry farmers in the context of low-income countries with a relatively inadequate occupational exposure risk management. Materials and methods The lung function capacity of 79 poultry workers was measured using a spirometer. Along with spirometry, a structured questionnaire was also administrated to obtain information about age, height, weight, smokers/nonsmokers, years of working experience, and pulmonary health of farm workers. The workers who were directly involved in the care and handling of birds in these intensive facilities were considered and divided into four groups based on their years of working experience: Group I (3-10 months), Group II (1-5 years), Group III (6-10 years), and Group IV (more than 11 years). The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and the FEV1/FVC ratio were considered to identify lung function abnormalities. Statistical analysis was carried out using independent sample t test, Chi-square test, Pearson's correlation, and linear regression. Results Based on the performed spirometry, 68 (86 %) of workers were found normal and healthy, whereas 11 (14 %) had a mild obstruction. Of the 11 workers with mild obstruction, the highest number with respect to the total was in Group IV (more than 11 years of working experience) followed by Group III and Group II. Most of the workers were found healthy, which seems to be because of the healthy survivor effect. For the independent sample t test, a significant difference was noticed between healthy and nonhealthy farmers, whereas Chi-square test showed a significant association with height, drugs, and working experience. Linear regression that was stratified by respiratory symptoms showed for workers with symptoms, regression models for all spirometric parameters (FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC) have better predictive power or R square value than those of workers without symptoms. Conclusion These findings suggest that lung function capacity was directly related to years of working experience. With increasing number of working years, symptoms of various respiratory problems enhanced in the poultry workers. It should be noted that most of the poultry workers were healthy and young, the rationale being that there is a high turnover rate in this profession. The mobility in this job and our finding of 86% of the healthy workers in the present study also proposed healthy worker survivor effect
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    Characterization of metals in feed, litter and air of intensive poultry farming facilities
    (Researchers Links, 2023-12-01) Yasmeen, Roheela; Hafeez, Faheem; Ammara, Umme; Younas, Rubab; Ahmad, Sibtain; Ali, Zulfiqar; Nasir, Zaheer Ahmad
    Poultry industry is progressing worldwide due to cheap sources of proteins and it is also considered as the center of various organic and inorganic emissions. The current study was designed to see the release of different metals from the poultry farms. Air samples both from indoor and outdoor along with the litter and feed samples of ten poultry houses were collected from the outskirts of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Poultry farms were varied in feed and grouped into three categories: Group A (using Feed A), Group B (using Feed B) and Group C (using Feed C). All collected samples were digested with aqua regia and analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Fourteen metals were detected and categorized as essential (Calcium (Ca), Potassium (K), Sodium (Na), Phosphorus (P), Magnesium (Mg)), trace (Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn)) and heavy metals (Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Mercury (Hg), Nickel (Ni), Lead (Pb)). In general, the concentration of all essential, trace, and heavy metals was found to be highest in feed followed by litter and air samples. However, Cr, Hg and Pb were higher in litter samples of group A as compared to feed and air. All the samples were statistically analyzed using one way ANOVA. A significant difference of feed was present with litter and air samples within groups (p<0.05) however, no significant differences were recorded among different groups. Overall it was noticed that the concentration of metals in feed samples were reflecting in litter and air. So, there is a need to ensure intervention and management policies in intensive poultry farming facilities to establish standards for metal in feed to reduce their bioaccumulation in the environment.
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    Ethno-environmental knowledge as a tool to combat indoor air pollution in low income countries: a case study from rural communities in Pakistan
    (2014-07-30) Nasir, Zaheer A.; Colbeck, Ian; Bharucha, Zareen P.; Cintra Campos, Luiza; Ali, Zulfiqar
    It has recently been estimated that 4 million deaths each year are associated with air pollution originating from household solid fuel use. Interventions to reduce biomass fuel-related emissions can yield a diverse stream of benefits including improved public health, socio-economic development, reduced land degradation and climate change mitigation. This study investigates the use of indigenous knowledge to inform interventions to combat indoor air pollution at a rural site in the Punjab province of Pakistan. The results indicate that the majority of people using biomass fuel had knowledge of its ill health effects. A range of methods were utilised to reduce indoor smoke including cooking in open spaces, use of chimneys, better ventilation and use of dry fuel. Education and housing type showed a statistically significant relationship with awareness of methods to reduce indoor exposure to biomass smoke. These findings lend support to the notion that communities have indigenous knowledge and their own methods to reduce exposure to indoor smoke from biomass fuels; this knowledge can be used as tool to design and implement sustainable intervention strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to indoor air pollution. It is recommended that a community based intervention focusing on locally manufactured improved stoves and better designed cooking spaces would be a suitable intervention in this region.