cancer risk assessment and statistical modeling of particulate matter and toxic metal exposure in air due to metro train project in lahore, pakistan

The air quality of metropolitan cities of developing countries is deteriorating rapidly. in pakistan, lahore city is a significant development hub (construction and industrialization). the current study deals with the quality of air due to anthropogenic activities. the sampling was conducted for four months during the orange line metro train construction. the parameters are particulate matter, toxic metals (cu, pb, fe, cr, mn, and cd), and anions (sulphates and chlorides). the analysis of these pollutants was performed using standard methods. the descriptive statistics showed that the particulate matter had the highest concentration (38.31 mg/m3) while the lowest was for copper (1948 µg/m3). all parameters showed values above any guideline values of any agency or country. the parameters showed positively skewed data with symmetrical (toxic metals) and no-symmetrical (pm, cl-1, and so4-2) distribution. the anova showed the fcritcu>mn>cd>ni>cr and cr>ni>cd>pb, respectively. the ci showed that 100 people/10,000 population were exposed to cancer risk, while hi (426) showed a severe threat. the results showed that the air quality of lahore city is inferior and needs immediate government attention.