LAHORE:
The level of dust in the air in Gulberg has risen by about nine percent on average since 2009 and up to five times the maximum mandated by Pakistani law, The Express Tribune has learnt.
On the other hand, the level of dust pollution on The Mall fell four per cent since 2008, according to three dust analysers installed by the Environment Protection Department in Gulberg, Township and The Mall.
The level of particulate matter below 2.5 microns in size detected by the analyser at the Gaddafi Stadium in December 2010 was 214.9 micrograms per metre cubed, which is over five times the limit of 40µg/m3 limit set under the National Environment Quality Standards (NEQS) in the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act of 1997.
From December 2009 to December 2010, the dust level in Gulberg rose 16 per cent. The latest reading, for May 2011, was 87.6 µg/m3. The average in Township for December to March 2010 was 200µg/m3, which is five times higher than the NEQS limit.
On The Mall, dust levels fell four per cent from January 2008 to April 2011. Younas Zahid, deputy district officer (environment), said this was because of the ban on two-stroke rickshaws and action by EPD inspectors against smoke-emitting vehicles around the Lower Mall and Chauburji. The readings show that dust levels are highest in December and the lowest in July, the driest and wettest months of the year, respectively. Prolonged exposure to air containing high levels of particulate matter of up to 2.5 microns in size can cause chronic bronchitis, reduced lung function and even premature death.
It can also aggravate skin diseases such as psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. Short term exposure of a few hours or some days can cause acute bronchitis, lung infections or bring on an asthma attack.
Technical troubles
The average change in dust levels in Gulberg, Township and The Mall was calculated by comparing the first four months of 2009, 2010 and 2011, because readings for most other months are missing because of technical problems.
An EPD official said that the Township sampler stopped working in April 2010 after operating for five months and has still not been fixed. The samplers in Gulberg and on The Mall broke down two or three times in 2008, he said. The breakdowns were caused by frequent power cuts and ineffective maintenance, he said. Another EPD official said that installing catalytic convertors in cars and spraying with water could reduce dust levels.
Dr Saulatullah Khan, a pulmonologist at Lahore General Hospital, said pedestrians and motorcyclists should wear face masks and those travelling in cars should make sure the windows are rolled up. He said strenuous exercise in a high-dust atmosphere was dangerous. He said dust could aggravate respiratory diseases including whooping cough, lung cancer and asthma. It could also cause stomach problems, he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 6th, 2011.
COMMENTS (3)
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Dear Sonia Malik,
Lahore is a lot larger than Gulberg, Township and the Mall.