By Hina Kiyani
ISLAMABAD: The rise in air pollution has increased respiratory ailments among the masses after the air quality of the Federal Capital deteriorated due to a persistent dry weather that ensued in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad at the onset of winter season with a cold weather which resulted in increased creation of dust particles and particulate matter in the atmosphere.
The Federal Capital’s ambience started tainting amid steady rise in air pollutant’s ratio due to increased vehicular emissions and human activities.
The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) daily air quality report noted that the air pollutants’ ratio recorded was below permissible limits and the air quality was healthy.
The air quality data was collected by Pak-EPA for 24 hours based on three intervals of eight hours of data collection from different locations of the federal capital.
The Pak-EPA data revealed that the air quality throughout the three intervals of data monitoring remained low as the ratio of pollutants ratio was below the permissible limits of national environmental quality standards (NEQS). The hazardous air pollutant particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5), which was a lethal atmospheric contaminant, remained 65.1 micro grammes per cubic meter on average which is higher than the NEQS of 35 mic-programmes per cubic meter and denoted the air quality unhealthy. The PM2.5 is generated through combustion of an engine, industrial emissions, burning garbage or inflammable material and dust blown up by fast moving cars plying on non-cemented patches of the roads.
Senior Pulmonologist at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Dr Zia Ul Haq told APP that there were two major factors for respiratory diseases during winter season namely dry and cold air. He said the respiratory track consisting of throat and lungs had internal surfaces possessing normal bacteria whereas there was no breach in it.
However, he said the dry and cold air at different phases due to increased exposure of an individual in the outdoors caused breaches in the lining of respiratory track which used to lead to an infection and also damage the normal secretions taking place inside the breathing organs.
Dr Haq informed that at the moment there was spike up in the cases of people reporting breathing or respiratory complications which was mostly reported after November 15 with extreme cold temperatures.
He said the pulmonologists usually advise the elderly above 50 years of age or patients of chronic heart, kidneys, and lungs diseases to get flu vaccine during the peak winter season to avoid respiratory diseases.
The senior pulmonologists said the people were also advised to avoid unnecessary prolonged outdoor visits during the morning and evening timings of cold weather whereas in case of any visit they should properly cover there eyes, and face by wearing face masks and coverings.
Moreover, he also directed the masses to ensure intake of warm fluids as necessary beverage like warm water and hot tea etc. to control damages to the respiratory track amid bad weather and air quality.
