ABSTRACT

Airborne particulate matter has now become an issue in the global environment due to its impacts on human health and environmental decay. Particulate matter is deliberated as major air pollutant which is mainly produced both by anthropogenic activities as well as natural. Particulate matter may be in form of gaseous, solid or liquid suspended in the atmosphere. Hyderabad and Nawabshah are two major cities of Sindh province and were surveyed for determination of the concentration of particulate matter. These two cities are hastily escalating due to increasing population,
industrialization and transportation activities. These activities contribute to increase air pollutants particularly particulate matter.

In this research work the concentration of PM 10 (coarse) and PM2.5 (fine) particles
were determined by using scientific equipment Aerocet 531 at main areas which represent the major traffic density at both cities i.e., Hyderabad and Nawabshah. In overall twenty main locations of Hyderabad and Nawabshah were selected for data collection. Random sampling was carried out at different times and days respectively. Maximum concentration of PM 10 (coarse) and PM2.s (fine) found at various locations of Hyderabad and Nawabshah. The maximum concentration of 481 uglm 3 and 381
uglm3 of PM 10 were recorded at Hyderabad Bypass and New Naka NawabShah
respectively. Whereas the maximum concentration of 63 uglm 3 and 62 uglm3 of PM.
5
were recorded at Hyderabad Bypass and New Naka Nawabshah respectively.

The results of both PM 10 and PM2.s are more than the permissible WHO guidelines. This higher concentration causes diseases like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, decreased lung function and lifelong respiratory disease and aggravated asthma. This higher level airborne particulate concentration needs mitigation measures so that their concentration can be brought to acceptable levels.