Lahore once more tops most polluted cities’ record amid thickening smog



Commuters make their way through a road amid smoggy conditions in Lahore on October 23, 2024. — AFP
Commuters make their method by way of a highway amid smoggy circumstances in Lahore on October 23, 2024. — AFP 

Punjab’s capital, Lahore, retained the highest spot on the real-time record of the world’s most polluted cities on Monday, as air pollution worsens within the metropolis with the arrival of winter.

Dense smog has engulfed Lahore as soon as once more with cooler temperatures taking maintain as the town battles air pollution annually in winter when mercury drops and chilly air traps building mud, car emissions, and smoke. 

The air high quality dropped to an AQI of 532 this morning, in line with IQAir, a Swiss firm. The provincial capital remained on prime of the world’s most polluted cities’ record for nearly per week, indicating a worsening smog scenario.

On Sunday, the town had extraordinarily dangerous air high quality, with an AQI of 700, prompting the Punjab Surroundings Safety Division to situation a smog alert.

IQAir’s air high quality classification defines the environment as “hazardous” to well being as soon as the AQI surpasses 300.

An AQI of 0-50 is rated “good,” 51-100 is “average,” 101-150 is “unhealthy for delicate teams,” 151-200 is labeled “unhealthy,” 201-300 is “very unhealthy,” and any studying above 300 is deemed “hazardous.” 

— IQAir
— IQAir

The alert suggested residents of Lahore to take precautionary measures to keep away from the consequences of air air pollution. The residents have been suggested to maintain air high quality ranges in test, maintain their doorways and home windows closed, keep away from going exterior unnecessarily and put on masks in case they step out of their properties.

In the meantime, all out of doors actions stay banned in faculties throughout Punjab, with a change of faculty timings.

Site visitors police has additionally warned commuters to observe warning whereas driving bikes because the visibility within the metropolis is decreased attributable to rise in smog in Lahore.

Neighbouring India’s capital New Delhi additionally retained the second slot on the air pollution charts, with an AQI of 268 in the present day.

The 2 cities are normally probably the most polluted on the earth when winter season takes maintain. Air high quality deteriorates in cooler months, as temperature inversion traps air pollution nearer to the bottom.

In the meantime, Karachi additionally ranked among the many prime 10 most polluted cities in the present day, with an AQI of 123. Right here the air high quality is “unhealthy” for delicate teams and other people with allergy symptoms.

In keeping with an advisory issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Division on Tuesday (October 22), foggy and smoggy circumstances are widespread from November to mid-December because the nation enters winter season throughout these months.

Unhealthy air high quality is a serious risk to the well being as residents within the polluted cities develop a number of medical points, particularly respiratory issues.

A report revealed final yr flagging the rising burden of hazardous air on well being, said that rising air air pollution can reduce life expectancy by greater than 5 years per particular person in South Asia, one of many world’s most polluted areas. 

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