The Study of Particulate Matter Concentration in Schools of Lahore

摘要

Children spend a large part of their time in school. Air pollution due to high concentration of particulate matterin schools has a detrimental effect upon children and teachers health and achievement. This study wascarried out to assess mass concentration of particulate matter (PM 10 , PM 2.5 ) in schools of Lahore, Pakistan,by using portable Tactical Air Sampler (Minivol TM TAS) and questionnaire survey during working days of theschools, in 5 northern (downtown area), and 5 southern (suburban) schools of Lahore, from November 2010to June 2011. Mean concentration of PM 10 in sampling schools of northern and southern Lahore was 1433.04μg/m 3 and 293.9μg/m 3 respectively, while that of PM 2.5 was 153.8 μg/m 3 and 54.79ìg/m 3 respectively. In boththe areas, concentration of PM 2.5 was minimum at 6a.m. and maximum at noon. Concentration of PM 10 andPM 2.5 was higher in winter than in summer, but was found to be lower on rainy days. In winter, northern andsouthern schools’ mean PM 10 was 1507.15 μg/m 3 and 314.5438 μg/m 3 , and PM 2.5 was 169.1μg/m 3 and 59.5μg/m 3 . In summer, PM 10 was 1365.4 μg/m 3 and 284.4 μg/m 3 , and PM 2.5 was 137.8 μg/m 3 and 44.5 μg/m 3respectively. PM 10 and PM 2.5 concentration in northern schools was significantly higher than in southernschools. It exceeded WHO and NAAQS of Pakistan. Questionnaire revealed that adverse impacts of highPM concentration are more rigorous at northern schools than at southern schools of Lahore. Suitable siteselection and public cooperation are vital for reduction of particulate matter in schools of Lahore.