Monitoring of air for microbial and metal contamination at selected sites in the vicinity of Johannesburg, South Africa.

ABSTRACT

A preliminary survey was undertaken to identify air contamination in the vicinity of industrial, residential and hospital sites. In many developing countries, poor town planning has resulted in growth of residential and commercial sites in close proximity to the industrial works, without the provision of a buffer zone. As prevailing winds blow across the industrial works to the other areas, undesirable pollution may be experienced. Before steps are taken to reduce factory emissions, the impact of the industry on the surrounding area needs to be clearly defined. In this study, the total particulate matter and the level of microbial contamination at the selected sites is reported. The elemental composition of the particulate matter is described.