Every breath we take

A new pollution monitoring website has been set up by four students at the LUMS and one at the UET.

Administrators of a new website set up by four students at the Lahore University of Management Sciences and one at the University of Engineering and Technology, Taxila, say that they have learnt from the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission that in parts of Lahore there are carbon concentrations of 200 parts per million (ppm) as opposed to the level of 40ppm recommended by the World Health Organisation. The health implications of this, in terms of rising levels of asthma and other sicknesses of the respiratory system, have been commented on and documented before. Lahore now ranks among the cities of the world with the worst air quality. The setting up of the website, known as VIEW (Volunteer Inter-based Environment Watch) indicates a new degree of interest in tackling key environment issues. In time, the team hopes to bring in equipment to monitor black carbon particles in the air. The substance can inflict havoc after it enters the lungs, potentially giving rise to cancer.

The website currently measures air quality at seven places in Lahore. Perhaps, in time, more areas across the country can be monitored and public opinion built on seeking improved air quality. After all, lives and health could depend on this, especially for those who spend a lot of time outdoors, like traffic policemen. It has also been clear that vehicular pollution is the main culprit. Buses, rickshaws and other vehicles belching out clouds of black smoke are familiar to all of us. In landlocked cities like Lahore, the situation is aggravated by the fact that the air has nowhere to escape, and hangs over the city in a cloud of haze made up of millions of pollutants. The rapid increase in vehicles on the road, failure to impose ‘clean’ fuel regulations and also the operation of factories and brick kilns emitting injurious fumes within city limits adds to the problems. We need an urgent effort to clean the air each and every one of us must breathe. Perhaps the pioneering initiative taken by this group of young people can raise awareness and help achieve this goal.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2011.