What is it about?
The presence of bacteria and heavy metals in atmospheric deposition were investigated in Kandy, Sri Lanka, which is a typical city in the developing world with significant traffic congestion.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
A major limitation in studies undertaken in relation to HMs and bacteria associated with atmospheric deposition is that they have generally been confined to urban areas in developed countries and, only a limited number of research studies have been conducted in developing countries. Though numerous studies have focused either on HMs or bacteria, the simultaneous investigation into bacteria and HMs in atmospheric deposition in urban environments is also limited. This limits the ability to develop specific and evidence-based policies and control measures to mitigate the adverse impacts on human and ecosystem health.
Perspectives
Atmospheric deposition is potentially an important part in the biogeochemical cycling of different pollutants. Pathogenic airborne bacteria attached to dust particles can cause detrimental human health impacts such as respiratory diseases, allergies and skin rashes in both, humans and animals.
Professor Ashantha Goonetilleke
Queensland University of Technology
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Microorganisms and heavy metals associated with atmospheric deposition in a congested urban environment of a developing country: Sri Lanka, The Science of The Total Environment, April 2017, Elsevier,
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.121.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
