STATE OF AIR QUALITY IN AND OUTSIDE OF HOSPITAL WARDS IN URBAN CENTRES – A CASE STUDY IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN
T. Gulshan, Z. Ali, Z. Zona, B. Ansari, M. Ahmad, I. Zainab, Z. A. Nasir, I. Colbeck
1* 1 1 1 12, 3 3 T. Gulshan, Z. Ali, Z. Zona, B. Ansari, M. Ahmad, I. Zainab, Z. A. Nasir, I. Colbeck
1 Environmental Health and Wildlife, Department of Zoology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan
2 School of Energy, Environment and Agrifood, Cranfield University, Cranfield, Bedfordshire MK43 0AL, UK
3 School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, CO4 3SQ, UK
Published Online First:
June 01, 2015
Publication Date:
June 01, 2015
ABSTRACT
Particulate pollution in healthcare facilities is a potential threat to healthcare workers, patients and visitors. A study was carried out to monitor particulate levels in and outside of five wards of Sheikh Zayed Hospital, a tertiary healthcare facility of Lahore. Measurements indicated that the hourly mean concentrations of PM in a medical, pulmonology 2.5 -3 (chest), surgical, pediatric and nephrology ward were 78 ± 37, 86 ± 46, 94 ± 48, 169 ± 122 and 488 ± 314 µg m respectively. The outside levels of PM of the same wards were 69 ± 27, 81 ± 49, 178 ± 85, 282 ± 164 and 421 ± 240 2.5 -3 µg m . Indoor levels were higher than outdoors in all the wards except surgical and pediatric ward. Such elevated levels of PM can result in aggravation of the poor health status of the patients as well as affecting the hospital staff and visitors. quality in hospitals, particularly with reference to
Keywords:
Particulate matter, hospital, wards, outdoor, Pakistan.