Report reveals air pollutants exceed air quality limits

KARACHI: Air pollutants in the city have excessively exceeded the limits for air quality after a suspected gas leak in Keamari left 14 people dead and affected over 300 others, according to a report issued issued Tuesday by a environment research lab.

In its report, the Global Environmental Lab (GEL) compiled preliminary data on air quality in specific areas of the metropolis on the request of Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA).

The objective was to assess the presence of toxic gases and their levels in the area. Levels of CO, NO, H2S, SO2, VOCs, O3, PM10, and PM2.5 were recorded and presented in the report.

The organisation recorded the following results during the monitoring:

The NO level, which should be a maximum of 40, was recorded at 191 near Railway Gate, while PM2.5, which should be a maximum of 75, was 103.

The PM10 and SO2 were registered at 147 and 123, as opposed to limits of 150 and 120, respectively.

The NO, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 levels at the Clifton’s Sea View area were at 203, 169, 341, and 229, respectively, as opposed to a maximum of 40, 120, 150, and 75.

The NO, SO2, PM10 and PM2.5 levels at the near Ziauddin Hospital Kemari were at 784, 1420, 1155 and 533 as opposed to a maximum of 40, 120, 150 and 75 respectively.

The SEQS limit for CO and O3 were based on a one-hour average, while SEQS limit for NO, SO2, PM10, and PM2.5 was based on 24-hour average.

“The levels of all pollutants were found to be higher than the allowable limits when monitored around midnight near Ziauddin Hospital,” the report read.

"However, the main source of gas leakages and reason for fatalities is yet to be confirmed. The higher levels of pollutants at sea view area need to be assessed further as they may be due to local factors." it added.