Karachi, how clean is the air you #breathe?
PAQI has found that Karachi’s air quality is 3–5x above safe levels
PAQI پاکی has been measuring particulate matter (PM2.5) levels in Karachi since October 2016. The measurements show a PM2.5 concentration of 47 micrograms per cubic meter of air (μg/m³) for October to December 2016. The World Health Organization (WHO) prescribes 10 μg/m³ as the guideline value for ambient air. Exceeding this value leads to serious public health issues.
Karachi’s air quality is nearly 5x above this level, and twice the value for daily exposure. That is also 3x the safe levels recommended by the National Environmental Quality Standards for Ambient Air by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA).
This air quality is better than the than the previously reported 88 μg/m³ (intermittent data from 2008–2009), a true picture will emerge after longer-term continuous measurements that can account for seasonal variations.
PM2.5 affects more people than any other pollutant
Karachi’s air pollution is among the most severe in the world. It is a cause for serious health issues. The most health-damaging particles are those with a diameter of 2.5 microns or less, which can penetrate and lodge deep inside the lungs.
High levels of PM2.5 result in reduced visibility or haze. This is commonly mistaken as dust fog, though the reality is that it is smog or air pollution.
The major components of particulate matter are sulfate, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water. These present a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles suspended in the air.
Chronic exposure to these breathable particles contributes to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as of lung cancer. A recent study found that the extremely elevated concentrations of PM2.5 in Karachi are associated with significantly elevated rates of hospital admission.
All major cities in Pakistan have air quality problems
Every winter, there is a seasonal smog in Lahore. This winter’s smog turned into a public health emergency exacerbated by seasonal crop burning in the Punjab-region. Farmers burn the remaining straw stubble to prepare their fields for the next planting. But this was only the straw the broke the camels back. There exist structural problems in Pakistan for controlling polluting emissions. Regulations are required burning of trash, vehicular exhaust, brick-kilns, and coal-power plants to make progress for a healthier environment.
Reduce your exposure to harmful air quality by following @KarachiAir on Twitter for hourly updates, or download our partner AirVisual app for air quality alerts. AirVisual provides both real-time and forecast air pollution data together with the knowledge on protecting yourself from air pollution.
Pakistan Air Quality Initiative (PAQI پاکی) provides community-driven air quality data to increase social awareness. Follow us on Twitter @PakAirQuality and facebook.com/PakAirQuality/ for updates. Help us set up an air quality monitor in your city!
