WHO report: Three Pakistani cities among most polluted
Pollution is measured as mcg concentration per cubic metre of air of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometres. PHOTO: FILE
Three Pakistani cities have leapt into the headlines over an alert for dangerous atmospheric particles, ranking among the world’s most polluted cities.
According to a 2011 World Health Organisation (WHO) report, Quetta, Lahore and Peshawar are among the most polluted cities.
The pollution is measured as the microgramme (mcg) concentration per cubic metre of air of particulate matter smaller than 10 micrometres (PM10) — about a seventh of the width of a human hair.
The WHO’s health guidelines are maximum exposure of 20 mcg/m3, measured as an annual average.
Quetta ranked at number four along with Ludhiana tied at 251 mcg/m3 while Peshawar ranked at number six with 219 mcg/m3 according to data in the report.
Lahore, emerged as the tenth most polluted city with an exposure of 200 mcg/m3 as per 2003/4 data.
Similarly, Paris, whose levels hit a high of 180 mcg/m3 last week, has an annual mean level of 38 mcg/m3 according to 2008 data.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 18th, 2014.