Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

Syeda Amber Fatima ¹, Fizza Ilyas ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, 93-Jail Road, Lahore, 5400, PK

Abstract

This research study explains the material flow of paper from households to containers and ultimately to landfills. Moreover, it shows different behavior of various households towards the consumption of different paper products and the way they reuse them. Sampling was carried out from households, kerbside containers and landfills where material flow of paper was studied. Percentage composition was calculated on different waste items including paper. Six major paper items were segregated namely glossy paper, cardboard, tissue paper, boxboard, office paper and newspaper. Moreover, proximate analysis was carried out to find out the values for fixed carbon, ash content, moisture content and volatile organic compounds (VOC's) for different paper items mentioned above. Material flow of paper from households to kerbside containers and then to landfills was observed. The results showed that waste paper from the households is of very fine quality and before reaching to the landfill site it is either sold, reused or recovered. Today in Pakistan, the act of recovering paper from the waste stream is carried out by the informal sector which if followed by the formal sector too can raise profits and economic development.

Keywords

Material Flow Analysis, Paper Waste, Municipal Solid Waste, Volatile Organic Compounds.

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Syeda Amber Fatima ¹, M. Nawaz Chaudary ², Adila Batool ³

Affiliations
1 Deptt. of Environmental Science, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, PK
2 College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PK
3 Department of Space Sciences, University of the Punjab, Lahore, PK

Abstract

Recycling today constitutes the most environmental friendly method of managing solid wastes. This research work was carried out to evaluate the existing situation of recyclables in the households of Samanabad Colony, Lahore. A survey was carried out of 726 houses and questionnaires were filled by the housekeepers. The housekeepers were provided with large size shopping bags and requested to put the waste in these bags and hand them over to researchers. Physical analysis of the waste was done. Chemical analysis was also done in the laboratory of the College of Earth and Environmental Sciences. All data collected through questionnaire were fed in the computer and analysed. Generation rate and collection rate of the recyclables were calculated at 0.15kg/c/day and 0.11kg/c/day respectively. The rest waste was 0.40kg/c/day. The total material which is recycled or reused is 1620.1kg/day, in which 56% is newspaper, 3.2% is magazine, 2.5% is cardboard, 2.1% is glass jam bottles, 1.7% is glass juice bottles and 16.8% is iron items, 8% is non ferrous items and 8.6% is textile. The composition of solid waste in the research area was found as follows: Paper 6.42%, Plastic 8.17%, Metal 3.18%, Organic waste 62.9%, Hazardous Waste 3.7% and Textile 6.5%.

Keywords

Solid Waste, Household Recyclables, Recycling, Samanabad, Pakistan.

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Syeda Amber Fatima ¹, Almas Hamid ¹, Ghazala Yaqub ¹, Anum Javed ¹, Haseeb Akram ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, PK

Abstract

Worldwide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have become concerning issue for public health. The current study was carried out to analyze the health and safety conditions in agricultural fields of a developing country. Moreover, another aim of the study was to determine pesticide (VOCs) residues in farmers working in rice, corn and cotton fields. Collected blood samples were analyzed by gas chromatography for isopropyl alcohol, ethyl acetate, ethanol, toluene, benzene and phenol. Questionnaire and checklist surveys were also carried out to measure the different health impacts. The qualitative analysis of pesticides in blood samples of farmers showed that those working in the cotton fields had high levels of ethanol that was 90.422 ppm, one had high levels of phenol that was 26.986 ppm, one had high levels of toluene that was 1.954 ppm and two had benzene levels that were 8.105 ppm and 5.654 ppm respectively. Isopropyl alcohol was not detected in any farmer. Health issues faced by farmers were skin, eye, nose and throat irritation, headache and fatigue. It is concluded that the working conditions in Pakistan farms are not up to the mark and it is recommended to improve the health and safety conditions of farm fields in Pakistan by government.

Keywords

Volatile Organic Compounds, Health and Safety, Agricultural Fields, Farmers.

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