The air quality of the federal capital revived after repeated days of polluted air as the hazardous atmospheric pollutants were recorded below permissible limits of national environmental quality standards (NEQS). The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) in its 24 hours data of regular ambient air quality monitoring report recorded declined ratio of air pollutants in the capital’s atmosphere.
The most hazardous pollutant, responsible for serious respiratory and chronic heart diseases, particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) was recorded 25.44 microgrammes per cubic meter which was below the permissible limits of NEQS of 35 microgrammes per cubic meter which was a 24-hour mean value. The World Health Organization has introduced stricter environmental quality standard of 15 microgrammes per cubic meter for PM2.5 which is a hazardous atmospheric effluent generated in response to burning of any material, and dust particles generated through fasting moving cars.
The EPA official added that the nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide concentrations were also recorded very low, during the 24 hours mean, which were below the NEQS of 80 and 120 microgrammes per cubic meter respectively. She elaborated that the nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide were mainly generated through industrial activities which were limited during the past four days.
She added that the prevailing heat wave was also one of the reasons for increased occurrence of pollution in the atmosphere. It was important to note that the Capital received no rainfall during the past four days but the air quality remained benign due to reduced vehicular emissions.
