ISLAMABAD: The air quality of the federal capital on Thursday was unhealthy as hazardous pollutants were recorded beyond permissible limits where the health experts warned citizens to avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.
The air quality in the metropolis was unhealthy for people belonging to sensitive groups particularity lungs and heart disease patients, older people, children and teenagers as air pollutant ratio was recorded beyond safer limits.
Health experts advised citizens belonging to sensitive groups to wear face masks or coverings, avoid unnecessary prolonged exertion outdoors and immediately contact health physician or doctor in case of serious respiratory issue.
The latest data released by Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), the particulate of 2.5 (PM2.5) microns which was a hazardous ambient air pollutant causing chronic respiratory diseases and premature deaths was higher than safer limits.
The PM2.5 not only exceeded National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of 35 micrograms per cubic meter rather World Health Organization (WHO) standard of 20 micrograms per cubic meter.
The air quality data revealed PM2.5 was recorded 66.21 micrograms per cubic meter whereas sulfur dioxide was recorded 35.46 micrograms per meter cube and nitrogen dioxide was 23.4 against the NEQS of 120 micrograms per meter cube and 80 micrograms per meter cube respectively.
The EPA official told APP that due to dry weather and no rainfall the air quality was recorded unhealthy due to large quantity of particulate matter of 2.5 microns above the NEQS limit and WHO standards.
She added that it was the calculating limit of air pollutants into the atmosphere where PM2.5 was the most health damaging environmental pollutant causing respiratory chronic diseases, premature deaths as it could easily penetrate into human blood through lungs cells.
To a question, she said the sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide were released from industrial emissions and car engines at different concentrations that accumulate into the ambiance causing air pollution.
She mentioned that federal capital’s air quality was commendable during lockdown as vehicular emissions had drastically reduced.
The main issue of air pollution was mainly due to large number of vehicles emitting combustion gases from the engine, she added.
She said EPA was regularly monitoring the air quality of the federal capital whereas it was unhealthy during dry weather, storm or pre-rain like situation whereas it was advisable for the citizens to wear masks and sunglasses during outdoor visits when the pollution level was recorded high.
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