STATUS OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY IN AND AROUND AUTOMOBILE REPAIR WORKSHOPS AND THEIR EFFECTS

Jehangir Shah, Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories

ABSTRACT

Child Labor as well as adult workers in these small-scale automobile workshops is exposed to polluted environment. Almost all the automobile workshops are situated near the busy roads of Peshawar city. The ambient air quality is constantly deteriorating due to growing transportation, urbanization and other commercial activities. With particular reference to motor vehicles, there has been a recorded steady (11.52%) increase in their number over the last few years. This significant increase has resulted in: an increased demand for the establishment of automobile repair and maintenance workshops, Employing more children in these workshops and has increased the level of ambient air in pollution in these workshops. The main ambient air pollutants in and around these workshops are carbon monoxide, particulate matter, poly aromatic hydrocarbon, lead, ground level ozone, heavy metals, sulfur dioxide, benzene, and nitrogen di oxide. These pollutants have many effects on the health of both adults and working children. Over the past several years the incidence of a number of diseases has increased greatly. According to WHO report, air pollution air pollution causes 800, 000 premature deaths from lung cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory disease worldwide, in addition to increased coronary disease and impairment of lungs function. The present study is focused on determining the level of carbon monoxide, total suspended particles, lead and cadmium in the ambient air of automobile workshops. Carbon Monoxide and total suspended particles were measured on the spot through portable instruments. Total suspended particles collected on the filter paper were analyzed in the laboratory through atomic absorption. The present paper discusses the quality of ambient air in and around automobile workshops and their effects on the workers especially on child workers.