Experts say smog may cause eye, throat irritations; Met Office says smoggy
conditions likely to persist; Shahbaz forms body over situation
LAHORE
A thick layer of smog engulfed the provincial capital on Wednesday, reducing visibility and causing serious health issues for the citizens.
Environmental and weather experts believe that the layer of smog is the result of dust particles raised from Metro Orange Line Train Project and vehicular and industrial pollution. The Met office has predicted that the smog will become thicker in next two days.
The Met officials have said due to stable atmospheric conditions, smoggy conditions are likely to persist. They said a shallow westerly wave would produce light to moderate rain in northeast Punjab and upper KP and snow over mountains, bringing a little relief.
The Met officials added that less than average rainfall is expected in November-December, therefore, smog, fog and mist will remain prevalent phenomena. They predicted higher concentration of smog in urban areas. Smog containing pollutants may cause eye/throat irritations and difficulty in breathing and in this condition people may exercise precautionary measures, the Met officials said.
No government department is taking this smog seriously whereas in developed countries serious health warnings are issued in case of smog and citizens, especially children are directed to stay indoors to avoid diseases relating to eyes, lungs and skin.
Junaid Iqbal, an environmental expert, said smog is a chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOC's) in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles (called particulate matter) and ground-level ozone. He said Ozone (O3) is a gas that can form and react under the action of light and that is present in two layers of the atmosphere, first high in the atmosphere, which forms a layer that shields the earth from ultraviolet rays, and the second at the ground level. This ground level layer of Ozone is formed from other pollutants and can react with other substances in both cases under the action of light, he explained, adding it is a secondary pollutant formed when precursor pollutants such as Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds react under the action of light. He said Ozone is also transported long distances in the atmosphere and is therefore considered a trans-boundary problem. Dr Zubair, a family physician, said smog formed by ground-level ozone, Sulfur dioxide, Nitrogen dioxide, Carbon monoxide and PM10 are especially harmful for senior citizens and children. “People with heart and lung problems such as emphysema, bronchitis, and asthma,” should avoid going out in smog. Smog can also inflame breathing passages, decreasing the lungs' working capacity and causing shortness of breath, pain when inhaling deeply, wheezing, and coughing, he maintained.
Long term exposure to smog at low levels can affect lung elasticity and the lungs' ability to resist disease, effectively aging lungs prematurely. Children, the aged, asthmatics, and sufferers of other chronic lung diseases are more susceptible to smog effects than the general population, he concluded.
Following the thick smog, citizens especially those traveling on two wheelers and on foot are facing serious difficulties. “My eyes are burning and I am having a shortness of breath,” said Shakeel Ahmed, a resident of Brandreth Road. He said his eight-year old daughter started vomiting when she returned home.
“This is the gift of Orange Line Train project to the city and its residents,” said Mushtaq Khan, a shopkeeper of Multan Road. He said the construction work on Orange Train project from Chauburji to Ali Town had been suspended for the last one month and no one was here to sprinkle water on roads to control dust particles.
On the other hand, an LDA spokesman said the contract of package 2 of Orange Line Train Project was awarded to a new company and 150 days were given to it to complete the work.
Meanwhile, the Met office said continental air is prevailing over most parts of the country while a westerly wave is expected to affect upper parts of the country on Thursday (evening/night) and likely to persist during next 24 hours.
The Met office predicted mainly dry weather in most parts of the country. It said foggy conditions are expected in plain areas of Lahore, Faisalabad and Sukkur divisions. Wednesday’s lowest minimum temperature was recorded at Skardu where mercury came down to 03°C while in Lahore it was 26 C and humidity was 62 per cent.
Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif has set up a high-level committee to consider the environmental situation due to severe smog in some cities of Punjab and adopting precautionary measures in this regard.
Adviser on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique will be convener of the 20-member committee while Provincial Minister for Environment and Chief Secretary Punjab will be co-convener of the committee. The secretaries of the departments concerned, additional IG Traffic, Punjab, King Edward Medical University vice-chancellor, PDMA DG , chief meteorologist, Lahore and environment experts will be its members.
The committee will evolve an emergency plan for dealing with the situation arising out of smog as well as present recommendations for saving schoolchildren from its effects, averting threat of traffic accidents as well as promoting public awareness regarding protective measures. The committee will submit its recommendations today to the chief minister.
