PHOTO: Reuters
LAHORE: Lahore has once again ranked top on the list of most polluted cities of the world.
Air quality monitors of local and international agencies on Monday ranked the provincial capital in the hazardous zone. International air quality monitoring agency, AirVisual, monitors indicated AQI readings between 186 and 392 in different areas of the provincial metropolis. It recorded atmospheric particulate matter (PM2.5) reading of over 270 µg/m³, which means that Lahore’s air is highly contaminated with very fine particles of dust and harmful other elements of less than 2.5 micrometres as the safe limit for PM2.5 is between 0 and 35.
The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) continuously underreporting air quality statistics as it indicated AQI readings of 174 and 250 monitored at the Met department and Wagha, respectively.
Lahore emerges as fourth most polluted city in world
On its official website, the EDP reported satisfactory to moderate air quality in the city, which was far below than third-party’s air quality readings.
PM2.5 particles have the tendency to stay longer in the air due to their small size and lightweight and increase chances of humans and animals inhaling them into their bodies because particles of such small diameter can bypass nose and throat and penetrate deep into the lungs and some may even enter the circulatory system.
Health experts warn that the incessant smog was putting every resident’s health at risk and people are facing more problems with each passing day. They have observed that smog was causing eye, viral infections and chest congestions to citizens.
Most of the patients in hospitals are suffering from the aforementioned diseases.
Besides the harmful effects of smog, the fog was also adversely impacting the smooth flow of road, rail and air traffic in the country.
The dense fog continued to blanket various cities of the province. As per National Highways and Motorway Police data, dense fog was witnessed at Thokar, Choungh, Mohlanwal, Maraka, Manga Mandi, Phool Nagar, Jhambar, Pattoki, Habibabad, Renala Khurd, Okara, Gimber, Sahiwal, Harrapa and Mir Dad Mafi and visibility had been reduced to less than 50 metres.
Lahore reels under alarming level of air pollution
A spokesman for the NHMP, dense fog had also reduced visibility to 100-300 meter on Pindi Bhattian to Khanawal sector, while visibility was hovering around 300-700 metre between Jaranwala to Pir Mahal. He highlighted that several sections of highways and motorways had been closed due to poor visibility.
He advised the travellers to avoid unnecessary travel and use fog lights during fog. He has also advised citizens to drive carefully, avoid overspending and maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 24th, 2019.
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