Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has failed to maintain the air quality control of Islamabad, which entered the ‘unhealthy’ category as Air Quality Index (AQI) value has reached 72.15 micro-gm/m3, showing a considerable increase in the levels of suspended particulates in the air.
According to the latest AQI monitored by the Central Laboratory for Environmental Analysis and Networking (Clean), Islamabad, considered as the cleanest city in the country, was showing an increase in the level of suspended particulate matter of 45.6 micro-gm/m3 against the safe limits of 35 micro-gm/m3.
The particulate matter is the tiny subdivisions of solid matter suspended in a gas or liquid, collectively known as Total Suspended Particulates (TSP), which are tiny airborne particles that are less than 100 micrometers. These particles constantly enter the atmosphere from many sources like vehicle emission, industrial processes, power generation, pollen and salt particles from evaporating.
The effects of inhaling particulate matter that have been widely studied in humans and animals now include asthma, lung cancer, cardiovascular issues, birth defects, and premature death. An EPA official, seeking anonymity, told Pakistan Today that brick kilns, the industrial sector of I-9 and I-10, vehicles, constructions and deforestation affected Islamabad’s air quality.
Climate Change Study Centre Head Shakeel Ahmed Ramay said that these particles were dangerous to health as major respiratory diseases were caused by such particles. He said many reasons were involved in controlling these particles which included bad governance, politics within environment agencies and corruption.
“Everyone can easily see a large number of industrial units and brick kilns in and around the residential areas of the capital, but neither Pak-EPA nor CDA is ready to take any action,” he lamented. Polyclinic Hospital Spokesperson Dr Shareef Astori said these particles entered the windpipe and lungs, where some particulates, known as inhalable particulates, cling to protective mucous and were removed.
Other mechanisms, such as coughing, also filtered out or removed these particles, he said. Collectively, these ‘pulmonary clearance mechanisms’ protected the lungs from the majority of inhalable particles, he said, adding that some of the smallest particles entered the lungs capillaries slowing down the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, causing shortness of breath, straining of the heart, which has to pump harder to compensate for the oxygen loss.
“The people sensitive to these conditions include those with heart problems, or respiratory diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis and asthma,” he said. EPA Labs Deputy Director Farzana Altaf told Pakistan Today that with the arrival of summer, the vehicular load in Islamabad had increased manifold as people visited recreational places. “The construction work on Kashmir Highway and the industrial sector are other main reasons for this alarming situation in Islamabad,” he said.
“We are working on this issue and to find out the reasons and solution of the increasing level of air pollution, but hopefully with the recent rains the pollution level would decrease,” she said.
