Abstract:
Pollution and accompanying public health effects from livestock operations have been a growing concern for the last several decades. Livestock keeping in slums have an important role in food security and livelihood but can also pose a significant threat to the environment and health of the slum dwellers. For this research two slums were selected from H-11/4 and F-11/2 area and comparison was made between animal keeping and non-animal keeping houses. Soil and dust samples were taken, and microbial and heavy metal analysis was done for evaluating the health risks. Coliform bacteria were found in both dust and soil samples of both type of houses indicating that other than water they can also act as a medium for exposure to humans and enter the human bodies especially through inhalation of dust and cause health effects. Heavy metals concentrations were also analyzed for Al, As, Zn, Ni, Cr, K, Cd and Pb. The samples were digested, and heavy metals were analyzed through inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The heavy metals concentration found in soil for Al, As, Zn, Ni, Cr, K, Cd and Pb were found within the concentrations of 497.9325, 0.2925, 3.8975, 1.2825, 1.1125, 202.17, 0.585 and 2.715 (ppm) respectively and concentrations of 249.9375, 0.43, 4.8475, 1.8475, 1.665, 214.045, 1.2775 and 3.64259 (ppm) respectively for non-animals keeping houses. In dust the concentration values were 181.945, 0.125, 3.16, 0.5225, 0.4575, 165.0225, 0.195, 2.5875 (ppm) respectively in animals keeping houses and 237.6975, 0.1575, 3.81, 0.7425, 0.6225, 99.51, 0.245, 1.875 (ppm) for nonanimal keeping houses respectively. Heavy metals have been reported to cause symptoms like dryness, itchy skin, rashes, swelling, shortness of breath, tightness of chest, dry cough, and cough with phlegm. A structured questionnaire was also developed and conducted for this research to gather primary data. Randomly people were selected for it. Not a large proportion of people showed the symptoms but few slum residents were facing these symptoms which indicate that heavy meals are present in soil and from soil they enter the dust. Through inhalation of dust these metals enter the human bodies and cause diseases. Lifetime cancer risk of selected heavy metals was calculated. In animal keeping houses the LTCR values increase in the order of Cr>Cd>As>Ni whereas in nonanimal keeping houses the LTCR values increase in the order of Cd>Cr>As>Ni. All these heavy metals are known carcinogens. It is essential that further and better studies andii monitoring be performed on these environments, and suitable control recommendations and solutions should be regulated for this public health threat.
