ASSESSMENT OF CD, NI, CU, AND PB POLLUTION IN LAHORE, PAKISTAN

This paper examines the effect of soil degradation, due to sewage slud ges, on different age groups of the population in the City of Lahore, Pakistan. A large portion of soil around the City of Lahore has been c ontaminated with heavy metals such as Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cu due to applic ation of sewage sludge/water for many years. The concentration of thes e metals was determined in the blood of various age groups of the popu lation living in and around the City of Lahore. These metals were also determined in the blood samples of people suffering from various type s of malignant cancer. The levels of these trace metals were found to be different in various cancer types, age groups, and between males an d females. The results of these investigations showed that the average concentration levels of Cd and Ni were significantly higher in the bl ood of cancer patients as compared to controls, whereas the concentrat ions of Pb were only slightly higher in the blood of cancer patients a s compared to controls. Copper levels in the blood of male cancer pati ents were slightly higher than the control and the opposite was the ca se for females. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.