Brick Kiln Pollution and Its Effect on Pulmonary Health of Workers

Zulfiqar Ali1, Muhammad Naeem Khan1, Ali Raza1, Zainab Irfan1, Zona Zaidi1, Kiran Saleem1, Syed Turab Raza2.

Syed Muhammad Faheem Ahmad3, Aliza Batool4, Zaheer Ahmad Nasir5, Ian Colbeck6

1Environmental Health and Wildlife, Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, 54590, Pakistan.

2IMHE, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chengdu, China

3University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.

4Department of Zoology, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, Pakistan.

5Cranfield University College Road, Cranfield MK43 0AL, Bedfordshire, UK

6School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, C04 3SQ, UK

Summary

Few studies have been carried out on severe effects of brick kiln pollution exposure. The current research was carried out in the periods of January-April, 2016 on three selected brick kilns located at Dholan chak 27, Pattoki, Kasur, to examine the relations between brick kiln pollution exposure and severe respiratory symptoms as well as lung functions among the workers.. Air quality parameters i.e. PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2 and VOCs were measured in the period of activity at modulation and kiln areas and in the period of inactivity of workers at residential areas. A total of 60 workers were selected having aged between 18 and 65 years and have been working at least for one year in the brick kilns. All workers were subjected to questionnaire and lung function measuring. Average concentrations of air quality parameters of modulation, kiln as well as residential areas were found above the WHO. A clear link was observed between brick kiln pollution exposure with respiratory health and pulmonary function among the workers.