Smog threat looms despite preventive measures
Last updated on: 30 October,2018 11:04 pm
Smog is basically derived from the combination of two words; 'smoke' and 'fog'.
LAHORE (Dunya News) - The provincial capital of Punjab and city of gardens, Lahore and its adjoining areas are once again in the grip of smog and is likely to stay for a few more days.
What is Smog?
Smog is basically derived from the combination of two words; smoke and fog . Smog is also used to describe the type of fog which has smoke or soot in it which is a yellowish or blackish fog formed mainly by a mixture of pollutants in the atmosphere which consists of fine particles and ground level ozone.
How Smog is produced?
When fuels are burnt, the atmospheric pollutants that form smog are released in the air and sunlight reacts with these fine particles.
The main sources of smog are pollutants released directly into the air by gasoline and diesel-run vehicles, industrial plants and activities, and heating due to human activities.
Causes of Smog in Lahore
The major causes of smog in Lahore are: burning of fuel, smoke from vehicular emission, industrial plants.
In view of the fact that the air pollution is is type of trans-border pollution, so, cross border (India) crop burning increases and continue unabated even though Pakistan Punjab has controlled its side.
Measures taken by Punjab Government to curb the smog
1- Punjab environmental protection Department (EPD) has decided to close traditional brick-kilns.
2- EPD is establishing a smog monitoring stationat the border near Barki to monitor air pollution coming from the neghbouring country.
3- The EPD is also going to establish 11 air monitoring stations.in different cities.
4- Special smog committees have been formed to monitor and control the sources of smog in the province.
5- Government has taken up the issue of trans-boundary pollution due to burning of crop leftover with India.
How to Stay Safe From Smog in Pakistan
1- Keep the doors & windows closed.
2- Avoid going out.
3- Stay home, inside office or within the walls as much as possible.
4- Cover your face a with mask.
5- Use goggles and sunglasses.
6- Drink as much water as you can.
7- Use wet mops while cleaning your house and offices.
8- Eat clean and hygienic food. Try to avoid eating out.
9- Don’t drink cold drinks and even cold plain water.
10- Try to avoid the construction sites and keep such places wet so that there’s as low dust as possible.
Apart from all these measures, A blanket of thick smog has enveloped Lahore and adjoining regions, reducing visibility and resulting in breathing difficulties and irritation in eyes for residents.
However, people from different fields of life took micro blogging website twitter to express their condition and feelings as Lahore is in the grip of smog after government measures.
Today Lahore’s AQI (Air Quality Index) is worst in the whole world. Such high value falls in hazardous category which means that outdoor air poses risk for lungs and heart diseases. #Smog on its way. #climate pic.twitter.com/UbFpzJlmou
— Ali Zafar (@AliZafarsays) October 29, 2018
On October 13, Prime Minister Imran Khan promised to clean our "air, rivers and land" in the next five years. Punjab once again chokes due to toxic smog. What is Khan s administration doing about it? #Smog https://t.co/ipmqELzHGx
— Benazir Shah (@Benazir_Shah) October 29, 2018
Smog Transboundary Pollution #Smog pic.twitter.com/qFCmZ7B1UF
— Anabiya Khan (@Anabiyakhan01) October 30, 2018
The smog is back.... pic.twitter.com/jxMU6hbfOP
— MangoBaaz (@mangobaaz) October 29, 2018
1930s :: View of Lahore City , Clean Air, No Smog
— indianhistorypics (@IndiaHistorypic) October 30, 2018
(Photo - National College of Arts, Lahore ) pic.twitter.com/E58VUhjlRP
An unhealthy #SMOG update - cross border crop burning increases n continues unabated even though #Pakistan #Punjab has controlled its side pic.twitter.com/NaV8uD9aFW
— Malik Amin Aslam (@aminattock) October 25, 2018