An introduction
The word smog is a combination of two words: smoke and fog. smog is composed of Nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, Ozone, smoke and other few particles. Smog is mainly formed due to coal combustion, vehicle emission, agriculture burnt from leftover of crops.it has become a major environmental issue in major cities of Pakistan, most affecting the capital city of Pakistan’s Punjab, Lahore. Just after the moonsoon season passes,and just before the onset of winters, there is a 1-2 month period in October and November,when Pakistan braces for a span of immense air pollution known as smog. Normal limits of air quality index upto 100 or acceptable where as the figures recorded in most big cities of Northern Pakistan way beyond surpass 300 mark. In the ongoing year 2024, maximum aqi recorded in Lahore is around 2000 and in Multan around 3000.
Health Effects:
Air pollution due to smog brings disastrous affects to the human health, especially the respiratory systems, which get directly affected due to direct inhalation of polluted air.
Some studies even suggest that it’s more dangerous than smoking a whole pack of cigarettes a day. Current wave of toxic smog has affected numbers of citizens living in the affected cities, especially children and immunocompromise and elderly.
Main symptoms include itching and burning in eyes, throat infection, fever- like illness, cough, fever and few others. Acute infections may resolve in few days but it may lead to long lasting effect on our Airways and lungs leading to chronic illnesses and decrease in over all life spans.
Precautionary measures:
Ongoing levels of AQI equals 6 to 7 times the mark of hazardous levels. The ongoing air pollution affects all ages, but children and old age people are the most among who fall victim. Citizens should strictly follow precautionary measures which include putting on mask the while they go out, frequent mouthwash and gargles.
How developed countries have encounted air pollution in the past:
China air pollution level fell 42.3% between 2013 and 2021, but how?
Government of China took strict measures to tackle rising levels of smog:
1- they shut down many coal plants in most polluted regions and banned formation of new power plants.
2 Rapid and aggressive reforestation China planted almost 35 million trees in various provinces.
3-They switched public transports to Electricity driven as their main fuel.