The federal capital’s air quality on Sunday was reported unhealthy despite light rain jeopardizing health of vulnerable age groups comprising children, women and the elderly people at risk of contracting respiratory ailments.
Air pollution in the metropolis remained high since the onset of the fall season as prolonged dry weather, increased vehicular traffic, garbage and wood burning continued to surge.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) daily air quality report indicated a heightened ratio of air pollutants, recorded above permissible limits, and the air quality was unhealthy. The Agency is responsible to ensure the protection of the environment under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997.
The hazardous air pollutant particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), which was a hazardous atmospheric contaminant, remained beyond 62 micro grammes per cubic meter on average which was higher than the NEQS of 35 mic-programmes per cubic meter and denoted the air quality unhealthily. PM2.5 is generated through the combustion of an engine, industrial emissions, burning garbage or inflammable material and dust blown up by fast-moving cars plying on non-cemented patches of the roads.
The EPA officials claimed that the vehicular emissions due to increased automobiles was one of the leading cause of bad air quality.The industrial emissions were already subsided due to carbon-absorbing advance technology installed at various steel manufacturing units.
