Evaluation of Air-Borne Trace Metals in Orthopaedic Sections of Health Care Facilities
Evaluation of Air-Borne Trace Metals in Orthopaedic Sections of Health Care Facilities
Afzal Nimra1, Zulfiqar Ali1*, Safdar Sidra 2, Rida Ahmad1
ABSTRACT
The airborne levels of carcinogenic trace metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and nickel (Ni) were evaluated in the Orthopaedic Operation Theater (OOT), Orthopaedic Wards (OW) and Orthopaedic Emergency Rooms (OER) of six hospitals, in Lahore, Pakistan. Overall, the average levels of Cd, As and Ni (31, 20, and 37 ng/m3) were lower indoors as compared to outdoors (39, 21, and 51 ng/m3) except Pb. The high indoor levels of Pb (113 ng/m3) as compared to outdoors (85 ng/m3) suggested pronounced indoor sources. The average indoor-outdoor (I/O) ratio for the Pb, Cd, As and Ni were 1.34, 0.94, 0.99 and 0.79 respectively. The results showed that indoor air in the hospitals were affected by the common effects of indoor (wall paints, indoor equipment, environmental tobacco smoke) and outdoor (dust, soil and fuel combustion) sources. The hospitals were located on busy roads, where high vehicular emissions probably emit trace metal pollutants.
Novelty Statement | This study discusses the concentration and possible sources of airborne trace metals in sensitive areas of hospitals, which is to our knowledge, is the first study contributed from Pakistan and its understanding is important in order to improve law enforcement against causative factors.
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June 2020
Vol. 35, Iss. 1, pp. 1-165
