Assessment of Air Quality of Livestock Farms in District Kasur and Lahore
Assessment of Air Quality of Livestock Farms in District Kasur and Lahore
Muhammad Jamil1, Safdar Sidra1*, Ali Hussain2, Muhammad Imran3 and Ali Ahmad Sheikh4
ABSTRACT
Agriculture, particularly livestock is the largest sector of Pakistan’s economy. While there are on-going efforts for further improvements in this sector, there is dire need to understand the environmental factors involved in well-being of the animals. The current study was conducted to evaluate the air quality of ten livestock farms of Districts Kasur and Lahore in an attempt to document the factors responsible for a better healthy environment for the valuable animals. The farms were selected and categorized on the basis of their respiratory disease outbreaks in the recent past. Particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), bioaerosols, potentially toxic trace elements (PTEs), CO2, temperature and relative humidity were measured at each farm during the summer and winter season. While the mean PM levels (3.29 ± 1.82 µg/m3 healthy farms and 3.81 ± 3.67 µg/m3 for the diseased farms) were below the threshold levels, the various activities around the farms and impact of seasons was significant. The air-borne micro-flora of animal farms comprised of opportunistic pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus and Pasteurella multocida . To conclude the air of the monitored farm was not so polluted probably due to the natural ventilation that might have played a role in timely dispersal of the air-borne contaminants. However, keeping in view the recurrent disease episodes at some of these farms, it is recommended to regularly monitor the air composition for extended periods so as to identify the factors responsible.
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