Effect of Cement Dust on the Microbial Diversity of Cement Polluted Soil.

ABSTRACT The study investigated the effect of cement dust on the microbial diversity of cement-polluted soil. Cement dust, a common environmental pollutant released during cement production and handling, contains high levels of calcium oxide and other alkaline substances that can alter soil properties and affect microbial communities. Soil samples were collected from different distances around a cement factory and from a control site with no cement exposure. Physicochemical parameters such as pH, moisture content, and organic matter were analyzed, while microbial enumeration and identification were carried out using standard microbiological techniques. The results showed that soils exposed to cement dust had significantly higher pH values and lower organic matter compared to the control. There was a marked reduction in total microbial count, particularly in bacterial and fungal populations, as the level of cement contamination increased. Dominant microorganisms isolated from the polluted soil included Bacillus spp. and Aspergillus spp., indicating that only a few tolerant species could survive under alkaline and nutrient-depleted conditions. The study concludes that cement dust adversely affects soil fertility by reducing microbial diversity and altering the ecological balance, and recommends proper dust management and soil remediation practices around cement industries.