ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Assessment of Bioaerosols and Metal Contaminants
in Car Cabin Filters Dust of Lahore, Pakistan
More details
Hide details
1
Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Pakistan
2
School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
3
School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
4
School of Chemistry, University of the Punjab, Pakistan
Submission date: 2022-05-18
Final revision date: 2022-09-29
Acceptance date: 2022-11-18
Online publication date: 2023-02-09
Publication date: 2023-03-14
Corresponding author
Zaigham Abbas
Institute of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of the Punjab, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2023;32(2):1919-1926
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
A higher concentration of airborne micro-organisms and toxic trace metals in the air is a
potential risk for human and environmental health. Suspended dust and microbes in the air are the
main inducers of respiratory symptoms. This study aimed to estimate and characterize the microflora
and heavy metal contaminants in the car cabin filters (CAFs) dust of Lahore, Pakistan. Moreover,
toxicological characterization of the dust was done using relevant cell culture of Human Lung Alveolar
Epithelial Cells A-549 through MTT assay. Culturable bacteria and fungi populations were
quantified using the standard spread plate method and heavy metals lead, chromium, and cadmium
concentrations were checked through atomic absorption spectroscopy. Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion
method was used to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of the isolated bacterial species. The
mean concentration of culturable bacteria and fungi was 4X106 and 5X105 CFU/g of dust respectively. Both Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative bacterial species with substantial antibiotic resistance were present
in the dust. The bacteria present in the CAFs dust were resistant to ampicillin, cefoxitin and gentamycin
while susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin. The heavy metal concentrations were as high as
273 mg/kg for Pb, 192 mg/kg for Cr and 11.4 mg/kg for Cd. The cell viability decreased significantly
with the increase in dust concentration from 100 to 400 μg/mL. The findings of this study will be
useful to policymakers and health care professionals to develop and implement effective interventions to
prevent adverse health impacts of bioaerosols and trace metals on the local population.