Lahore: Pollution in air on the rise

[Naveed Yaseen]

By Ali Raza
The presence of various air pollutants in the provincial capital continue to pose serious threat to the health of general public as the measures taken so far by the authorities concerned are either ineffective or unimplemented.

The main source of air pollution in the provincial metropolis is vehicular traffic and its level is much more than the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. As per the WHOís standards the level of Particulate Matters (PM 2.5) should not be more than 40 ug/m3 (24 hrs) but at various spots in Lahore, this level is crossing the figure of 115.

Likewise, the noise pollution at any commercial place the noise level should not increase 70 debacles where as at various important crossings this level has crossed the limit of 90 debacles.

Environmentalists believed that Particulate Matter (PM) is the key to monitor air pollution in every city and in Lahore this level has reach dangerous level. PM 2.5 is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. Particle pollution is made up of a number of components, including acids (such as nitrates and sulfates), organic chemicals, metals, and soil or dust particles. The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Once inhaled, these particles can affect the heart and lungs.

According to the figures of the Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD), the level of PM 2.5 in January was 135 at the Town Hall and 68 at Gulberg while on May 04, 2009 it was recorded as 119 at Town Hall and 40 in Gulberg area. Environmentalists said that besides warming up the atmosphere, PM 2.5 reduces visibility.

Senior EPD officials said other major pollutants present in the air are Ozone (O3), Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Carbon Monooxide and Particulate Matters (PM). The data showed that the level of NOx was recorded as 110 and 58 at Town Hall and Gulberg on May 04, 2009 whereas according to the WHO standards it should not exceed 80 ug/m3.

The WHO standard of NOx is 40 whereas at Township the level of NOx was 81, at Town Hall it was 107 and at Gulberg it was 40 on January 05, 2009 while on may 04, 2009 the level was 65, 110 and 58 respectively.

EPD officials said NOx, is the generic term for a group of highly reactive gases, all of which contain nitrogen and oxygen in varying amounts. They said NOx is formed when fuel is burned at high temperatures and its primary sources are motor vehicles, electric utilities, and other industrial, commercial, and residential sources that burn fuels.

They said NOx and the pollutants formed from NOx can be transported over long distances with winds. This means that problems associated with NOx are not confined to areas where NOx are emitted. They said NOx causes a wide variety of health and environmental impacts because of various compounds and derivatives in the family of nitrogen oxides, including nitrogen dioxide, nitric acid, nitrous oxide, nitrates, and nitric oxide.

For Ozone, the WHO standard is 100 while in Township the level was found reaching 155, at Town Hall it was 148 and in Gulberg it was 162 on May 4, 2009 whereas on January 05, 2009 it was recorded as 201, 210 and 185 respectively. Experts said Ozone (O3) is a gas composed of three oxygen atoms. It is not usually emitted directly into the air, but at ground-level was created by a chemical reaction between oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the presence of sunlight. Ozone has the same chemical structure whether it occurs miles above the earth but in the lower atmosphere, ground-level ozone was considered very dangerous. They said motor vehicle exhausts and industrial emissions, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents as well as natural sources emit NOx and VOC that help in forming ground level Ozone layer.

Following the increased levels of air pollution, majority of the commuters travelling on the city roads are facing difficulty in breathing, eye burning and nausea. Besides this the residents of adjoining localities also suffers from the air pollution, which has become a major source of asthma, lungs infection and blood pressure. Air pollution also accounts for several other diseases of brain and heart.

According to the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) Environment Department, two-stroke rickshaws and motorcycle-rickshaws are causing 65 percent of the total vehicular pollution while diesel buses and wagons are responsible for another 15 percent.

It is pertinent to mention here that the Lahore High Court has already imposed a complete ban on the movement of two stroke rickshaws in the provincial capital but the vehicles are plying on city roads. Though the CDGL banned entry of two stroke rickshaws on various city roads, the residents declared this measure ineffective and urged the Chief Minister Punjab to show a political will to ban these air polluters to save lives of millions.

Tariq Zaman, District Officer Environment CDGL while talking with The News said most vehicles did not meet the international environment protection standards. He said the ratio of un-burnt fuel emitted from two-stroke engines is very high. He said the government was strictly monitoring the situation and had taken several measures to control air pollution, especially vehicular pollution.

He said on the directions of the Punjab government, the CDGL had already planned a complete phasing out of two stroke rickshaws from the city. He said about 25000 new four-stroke CNG rickshaw had been introduced in the city while new CNG busses were also coming in the city.

The CDGL has also launched various crackdowns on air polluting industrial units operating in various city localities, he said. As many as eight steel mills were sealed while 28 cases were lodged against the polluters, he concluded.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=176375