A Preliminary Assessment and Control Strategy of Size Segregated Pollutants in Urban and Peri-urban Areas of Metropolitan Faisalabad, Pakistan

Abstract

In recent years, Pakistan has experienced severe and persistent air pollution associated with urbanization and industrialization and it has substantial affects on ecosystem and air quality. In urban and peri-urban areas, maximum TSP concentrations were observed at Satiana Road (987 µm -3 ) and Chak 215 RB (1123 µg m -3 ). Similarly, maximum PM 10 concentrations were recorded at Gutte Wala (782 µg m -3 ) and Chak 215 RB (893 µg m -3 ), while maximum PM 2.5 concentrations were observed at Madina Food Mill (621 µg m -3 ) and Chak 215 RB (654 µg m -3 ). The statistical results suggested that there were significant difference between urban and peri-urban areas. Majority of size segregated pollutants including TSP, PM 10 and PM 2.5 were found with higher values than the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA), World Health Organization (WHO) and National Environmental Quality Standards for Pakistan (NEQS-Pak) limits for both urban and peri-urban areas. However, only 4%, 8% and 4% for TSP, PM 10 and PM 2.5 , respectively in urban and in peri-urban samples for TSP (40%) PM 10 (60%) and PM 2.5 (44%) were found under prescribed guidelines. Furthermore, we have also compared metropolitan size segregated pollutant (PM 10 ) with other Pakistan and Asian metropolitan's cities and purposed a control strategy to improve air quality in Faisalabad.

Investigating connections between COVID-19 pandemic, air pollution and community interventions for Pakistan employing geoinformation technologies

“…According to WHO, individuals suffering from chronic respiratory diseases like asthma and those immune compromised due to cancer, etc., are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection ( Conticini et al, 2020 ; WHO, 2020 ). A strong correlation between particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) and respiratory diseases including severe acute respiratory syndrome–coronavirus 2 has been generally confirmed over the years by several studies ( Horne et al, 2018 ; Kelly and Fussell, 2011 ; K. Mehmood et al, 2020b ; Mehmood et al, 2018 ; Sánchez-Triana et al, 2014 ; Xu et al, 2016 ).…”

“…A great deal of literature reveal that atmospheric fine particulate matter composition especially, with diameters of 2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) is associated with several antagonistic health effects through inhalation pathway as can easily penetrate in the human lungs and interact with lung cells to cause serious respiratory diseases (L. Liu et al, 2020 ; Perrone et al, 2013 ). PM 2.5 is composed of an inert carbonaceous core coated with organic chemicals, metals, sulfate, nitrate, with possible adsorbed additional organic pollutants mainly viruses, bacteria, and toxic heavy metals on its surface, which might increase its toxicity levels ( Feng et al, 2016 ; Mehmood et al, 2018 ; K. Mehmood et al, 2020a , 2020b ; Khalid Mehmood et al, 2020 );. Recently, ( WHO (2020) reported that approximately seven million deaths every year due to PM 2.5 pollution.…”

Brick Sector and Air Quality: An Integrated Assessment towards 2020 Challenge of Environment Development

“…In addition, 10 out of 36 districts of the Punjab have big clusters of brick kilns such as Faisalabad, Kasur, Multan, Vehari, Bahawalpur, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, and Sialkot ( Figure 3). Among all districts, Faisalabad (Mehmood et al, 2018) and Kasur are the main hubs of brick kilns (Kataria et al, 2018). Based upon the recent results, it can be clearly perceived that the smallest brick markets are situated in Chiniot and Attock, having less than 100 kilns.…”

Impact of ambient air pollution on outdoor employees’ performance: Mediating role of anxiety

“…The air quality of these cities has become worse due to industrialization, high traffic, and high-level of burning of fossil fuel ( Alvi et al, 2018 ; Hashmi et al, 2018 ; Hamid et al, 2019 ). The high level of AAP is significantly impacting the psychological and physical wellbeing of people ( Mehmood et al, 2018 ). Though Pakistan is taking several measures to control AAP and its effects, but the success rate of these measures is very low.…”