SYED UMAIR ALI
Recently, a team of researchers at Institute of Environmental Sciences (IES), University of Karachi conducted detailed practical research and found that air in Karachi is heavily polluted with hazardous pollutants causing severe threats to the health of Karachiites.
The researchers studied 22 locations in seven districts of the city for 10 hours everyday for a whole calendar year, the areas monitored for the said research includes: Model Colony, Shama Market, Jinnah Square Quaidabad, Landhi, New Karachi, Liaquatabad, Nazimabad, F.B. Area, Hyderi Market, Hasan Square Sohrab Goth, Jackson Market, Naurus Chowrangi, Shan Chowrangi, Port Qasim, Tibet Centre, Kala Pul, Surjani Town, Orangi Town.
As a result of this study, it was found that the concentration of hazardous air pollutants in Karachi has reached a level where seasoned, or monsson changes will not bring about any positive impact on the ambient air quality of the city.
The research team regretted lack of action on part of provincial government as the city had been constantly ranked among the most polluted cities in the world.
The main sources of the pollutants in Karachi includes automobile emissions, construction sites, unpaved road networks, fossil fuel combustions, industrial emissions, and open waste burning.
The team found that district east was the most polluted region where levels of pollutants were remained higher during the whole study. However, district central was found to be the least polluted as per concentration among all the areas monitored during the study period.
The air quality index of the city has been calculated during the study ranged from 201 to 300 which reflects that the air quality in Karachi is “Very Unhealthy”.
Many other studies including this one, have proved that such poor air quality has resulted the out break of serious health dangers like lung cancer, stroke, heart diseases, and other chronic and acute respiratory diseases including asthma.
The study concluded that to save the city (Karachi) as well as the health and wellbeing of its citizens, the air quality standards must be brought in line with the guidelines of World Health Organization (WHO) and ensure this provincial government must take immediate and strict corrective measures.
AMBREEN ADNAN
The basic solution to air pollution is to get away from fossil fuels and replace them with other energies such as solar, wind and geothermal.
You are absolutely right.