Lahore remained on the highest of world’s “most polluted cities” rankings for the second consecutive day amid the intensifying smog disaster within the provincial capital as winter approaches.
The IQAir information launched immediately confirmed that Lahore had a worse air high quality on Wednesday than yesterday, with an air high quality index (AQI) of 503.
As per the air high quality classification by IQAir, the ambiance turns into “hazardous” to well being after the AQI crosses the 300 mark.
An AQI of 0-5 is taken into account “good”, 51-100 is taken into account “reasonable”, 101-150 is “unhealthy for delicate teams”, 151-200 is solely “unhealthy”, 201 – 300 is “very unhealthy”, whereas greater than 301 levels signifies “hazardous”.
IQAir measures air high quality ranges based mostly on the focus of lung-damaging airborne particles referred to as PM2.5 — and that is 55.6 instances greater than the World Well being Organisation (WHO) air high quality guideline worth in Lahore.
In the meantime, New Delhi, India, retained its place because the second most polluted metropolis on the size, with an AQI of 366.
The third most polluted metropolis on the planet immediately is Karachi, the place the AQI is 166.
Right here, the air high quality is “unhealthy” for the residents.
Medical consultants have suggested these with respiratory points akin to bronchial asthma and mud allergic reactions to observe excessive warning to remain secure from the consequences of air air pollution.
Within the wake of current state of affairs, Punjab Environmental Projection Division issued separate pointers for colleges and different sectors.
As per the notification, faculty timings have been modified to eight:45am, taking impact from October 28 until January 31, 2025. The college administrations have been directed to organise college students’ assemblies indoors.
Residents have been suggested to keep away from out of doors train, maintain their doorways and home windows closed to forestall soiled air, put on masks and examine their autos’ health amongst different precautionary measures.
In the meantime, actions like fireworks have been banned until January, 31, 2025.
The provincial authorities rush to deal with the worsening smog disaster with all preparations made to take care of the state of affairs, Senior Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb stated final week.
The federal government can also undertake the choice of synthetic rain to scale back growing smog.
The standard of air deteriorates when colder days strategy, as air pollution spirals with cooler temperatures taking maintain. Lahore and New Delhi are largely essentially the most polluted cities.
Dangerous 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.
In line with a report printed final 12 months which flagged the rising burden of hazardous air on well being, rising air air pollution can minimize life expectancy by greater than 5 years per particular person in South Asia, one of many world’s most polluted areas.
In line with surroundings lawyer and activist Ahmad Rafay Alam, the notion that poor high quality is a seasonal Lahore difficulty isn’t true.
“Air air pollution is a regional and year-round public well being emergency.”