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Particle size, morphology and characterization of indoor and outdoor airborne particulate matter for toxic metals in Karachi

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Abstract

Rapid growth in industrialization and urbanization in Karachi draws attention toward increasing rate of air pollution and its health effects. So, the main objective of the present study was to determine the root cause of daily morbidity associated with airborne particulate matter (PM) exposure in Karachi. Other goal was to highlight those areas which are severely at the risk of particulate matter hazards. For this, high volume air sampler was used to collect PM from both indoor and outdoor air at commercial, residential and educational environments of Karachi. Effect of meteorological parameters on PM was also investigated. Heavy metals (Cd, Pb and Cu) concentrations in PM were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy, while other elemental composition, morphology and size of PM were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The results revealed that PM particles consisted of O, Si, Ca, Cl, S, Na, C, Fe, Cd, Pb, Cu, Mg, Al, Zn, K and Ba. The morphologies of PM were spheroidal, irregular, fractal, narrow elongated, crystalline tabular and fiber like. The indoor and outdoor air at commercial sites (e.g., open markets) was not found suitable from health perspective. Especially, the area of Manghopir road has almost four times higher Pb concentration (1.879 µg/m3) than the WHO standard (0.5 µg/m3). The size range of particles in both outdoor (0.119–1.63 µm) and indoor (0.13–1.02 µm) settings existed in the category of PM2.5. Therefore, these fine particles with hazardous chemical composition and morphology are liable for daily morbidity of exposed population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    N. Ali

  2. Department of Environmental Science, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Science and Technology, Karachi, 75300, Pakistan

    I. Adil

  3. Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, Karachi, 74900, Pakistan

    A. Magsi

  4. Department of Biotechnology, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    E. Asif

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  1. N. Ali
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Correspondence to N. Ali.

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Editorial responsibility: M. Abbaspour.

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Ali, N., Adil, I., Magsi, A. et al. Particle size, morphology and characterization of indoor and outdoor airborne particulate matter for toxic metals in Karachi. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 17, 3969–3982 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02771-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-020-02771-4

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