Smog; The Present Health Scare – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #879

Smog; The Present Health Scare – Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #879

Dear Colleagues!  This is Asrar Qureshi’s Blog Post #879 for Pharma Veterans. Pharma Veterans  aims to share knowledge and wisdom from Veterans for the benefit of Community at large. Pharma Veterans Blog is published by Asrar Qureshi on  WordPress, the top blog site. Please email to asrar@asrarqureshi.com for publishing your contributions here.

Credit: Nöel Pabella

Credit: Rubenstein Rebello

Few days back, a gentleman filmed burning of crop stubbles on both sides of motorway near Sukheki. Few days later, I also saw similar activity around M4 Faisalabad motorway. It was despite the fact that the government had already closed schools and offices on two occasions to reduce the level of air pollution. Was this information not shared on media and social media to create awareness? If yes, then who was monitoring the implementation?

Smoke emitting vehicles are not uncommon in Pakistan. The private car owners drive their smoke-emitting cars with impunity. Large vehicles like trucks are also part of the problem. Traffic police becomes active on certain occasions and their intent appears to be making money only. How can we bring control to this?

Brick kilns were closed with a lot of fanfare, and it was hailed as a revolutionary step by the then government. On my way to office in those days, I used to see three brick kilns emitting black smoke. Well, the kilns did close down, but just for a few days. After that, all was business as usual. Where are the government officials responsible for getting instructions implemented?

[Quote from PIDE article] At the end of 2019 there were certain announcements by prime minister of Pakistan for the possible control of smog, “Govt. announced that till the end of year 2020 Euro5 fuel would be imported while the recent fuel would be converted into Euro4. 90% pollutants could be reduced by such steps. Oil refineries to be given three years to improve and adopt modern technologies. Furthermore, negotiations are underway with electric vehicles manufacturers. The govt. would import machinery worth Rs. 30 billion to help control the stubble burning issue, moreover the govt. will convince owners of kilns to adopt modern zigzag technology. 60,000 kanal area of land had been identified for urban forestry in Lahore. To have an effective strategy, there should be monitoring centers to keep a check on the air quality, he said, Lahore had two such centers and now their number would be increased to 30 which would help give accurate data” —PM Imran Khan, November 2019

In reality, there is lot to be done yet. 

Smog is composed mainly of tropospheric ozone (O3); primary particulate matter (PM) such as pollen and dust; and secondary particulate matter (PM) such as Sulphur oxides, volatile organic compounds, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia gas.  The prominent causes of smog include regular pollution with fossil fuel burning with lack of pollution control technology in our vehicles, power production, and in industrial sector. Among other sources of pollution includes, burning of municipal and industrial waste, bricks kilns which again use dirty fuel such as rubber tyres, burning of crop residue and dust from construction sites such building new roads and buildings. [Unquote]

[Quote from Science Direct article] Pakistan is ranked number fourth in the most populous countries in Asia. In Pakistan, two-third of its population resides in the province of Punjab. In Punjab, three of the most populated cities are Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala. Besides over-population, another unfortunate resemblance between these three megacities is their abysmal air quality. According to recent data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in certain areas of Lahore has frequently exceeded 400 μg/m³ in the month of November 2021 while the safe AQI value is considered below 50 μg/m³ [1]. The major reason for this deteriorated air quality in winter months is smog.

Crop burning, over enthusiastic industrialization and urbanization, increased number of vehicles on road combined with poor fuel quality, brick kilns and deforestation are among the leading causes of air pollution in these three cities. The colder temperatures in initial months of winters lead to smog formation which blankets the major cities of Punjab [2]. Among these cities, Faisalabad and Gujranwala are the industrial hubs of Punjab whereas Lahore faces the issue of unchecked urbanization.

Smog is responsible for many serious health issues including respiratory problems such as asthma exacerbation, coughing, burning throat and chest irritation and chronic bronchitis. Besides these breathing problems, smog also causes eye, cardiac and skin manifestations.

Particular Matter 2.5 (PM 2.5) is a component in smog which is considered to be the major health hazard. It can pass through the airways and settle down in the lungs causing many pulmonary pathologies. It is the same component which reduces visibility and causes “haziness” seen in smog. [Unquote]

Suggestions

Several factors contribute to the formation of smog in the country, therefore, solutions to address the smog issue in Pakistan require a multifaceted approach involving various stakeholders.

• Promote and incentivize alternative methods for managing crop residues, such as mechanized removal or converting residues into biofuels or compost.

• Educate farmers about the adverse effects of crop burning and provide financial assistance for adopting cleaner agricultural practices.

• Implement and enforce stricter vehicular emission standards.

• Promote the use of cleaner fuels, electric vehicles, and the adoption of modern engine technologies.

• Introduce vehicle inspection and maintenance programs to ensure proper upkeep of vehicles.

• Enforce stricter regulations on industries, particularly brick kilns and factories, to reduce emissions and promote the use of cleaner technologies.

• Offer incentives for industries to transition to cleaner production methods.

• Implement regulations and guidelines for construction projects to minimize dust emissions.

• Encourage the use of cleaner construction practices and materials to reduce particulate matter in urban areas.

• Launch public awareness campaigns to educate communities about the health hazards of smog and the importance of individual actions in reducing air pollution.

• Engage schools and educational institutions to raise awareness among children and encourage sustainable practices.

• Collaborate with international organizations and neighboring countries to address transboundary air pollution issues collectively.

• Seek technical and financial assistance for implementing sustainable solutions and developing long-term strategies to combat smog.

Addressing the smog issue in Pakistan demands concerted efforts, stringent regulations, technological advancements, and active participation from both the government and the public. Sustainable solutions, along with a commitment to reducing emissions and promoting cleaner practices across various sectors, are crucial to combating the harmful effects of smog and ensuring cleaner air for future generations.

Concluded.

Reference:

https://pide.org.pk/research/smog-the-fifth-season-in-pakistan/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2049080122007075#:~:text=The%20major%20reason%20for%20this,pollution%20in%20these%20three%20cities.