JBASV8N2A34- Lead Pollution Measurement Along National Highway and Motorway in Punjab, Pakistan

Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences - Volume 8 Number 2

Lead Pollution Measurement Along National Highway and Motorway in Punjab, Pakistan

Hashim Farooq, Yasir Jamil, Muhammad Raza Ahmad, Muhammad Afzal Ahmad Khan, Tahir Mahmood, Zeeshan Mahmood, Zia-ul-Haq and Shakeel Ahmad Khan

http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.34

Abstract: A study was conducted to determine qualitative and quantitative lead contamination in soil and vegetation along two major roadsides of Pakistan using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. There has been a rapid increase in vehicles on the highways using petroleum products, which has caused considerable raised the quantity of lead in the atmosphere increasing the risk to health. Laser Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) was used as multi elemental analysis technique to cross confirm the lead contamination in the samples. The samples of soil and grass were collected from each location 100m away from the edge of roads at every 25m. The levels of lead were found to be 125mg/kg to 87mg/kg respectively in soil and grass. Hence there is high accumulation of lead in roadside soil and vegetation of linking roads of highly populated cities of Pakistan, Faisalabad and Lahore.

Keywords: LIBS, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy, vehicular emission, lead contamination

Download PDF file ::: Back to Table of Contents

The Effect of Grain Size on Radon Exhalation Rate in Soil Samples of Dera Ismail Khan in Pakistan

Tabassum Nasir and Nisar Ahmad

http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2012.08.02.29

Abstract: Radon concentration and its exhalation rate has been measured from twenty five soil samples collected from seven different locations of Dera Ismail Khan, in the north west of Pakistan. These samples were crushed after drying and passed through sieves with different sizes of pores to get three grain sizes, £0.595 mm, 0.595-2.00 mm and 2.00-4.00 mm of soil. CR-39 based NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board) radon dosimeters have been used to measure the radon concentration and exhalation rates. The maximum average value of radon exhalation rate has found to be: (3.57±0.38) Bq m^-2 hr^-1 in the samples having grain size 2.00-4.00 mm and the minimum as: (2.21±0.26) Bq m^-2 hr^-1, in the samples with grain size £ 0.0595 mm. This indicates that the radon exhalation rate increases with the grain size. The maximum average value of radon exhalation rate has been found in samples collected from river side where soil texture is silty clay loam. The obtained values of radon exhalation rate for all the samples are well below the world average value of 57.60 Bq m^-2 hr^-1.

Keywords: Radon concentration, Radon exhalation rate, grain size, soil texture.