Lahore’s air pollution levels have spiked — yet again. On Wednesday last, the air quality index measured by IQAir was 337, considered to be “hazardous.” What’s more, the PM2.5 concentration in the city air was 13.4 times above the WHO annual air quality guideline value.

Simply put, the smog is upon us. It’s become an annual phenomenon: Every year, around this time — that is, in the months of October and November, and often extending into December — the city is blanketed by dense smog that seems to hang low, causing the people to fall sick with different allergies related to eyes, throat and lungs.

In technical terms, smog is produced by sunlight, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere which leave airborne particles called particulate matter (PM) and ground-level ozone (O₃). According to environmentalists, O₃ can form and react under the action of light and is present in two layers of the atmosphere — at a certain height where it forms a thick layer, shielding the earth from ultraviolet rays; and at the ground level.

The environmentalists say that the spread of PM2.5 must be stopped in order to combat smog. Sadly, nothing concrete is being done about it. At least three mega road projects initiated by the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) are currently under way in the city. These are the Sheranwala Flyover, the Gulab Devi Underpass and the Shahkam Chowk Flyover. These sites are heavily contributing to the spread of PM2.5 which could have been checked by simply sprinkling water on gravel and other construction material.

On the other hand, industrial and vehicular emissions, particularly blamed for contributing to the smog, remain the order of the day. The smoke emitted by the brick kilns and the burning of harvest stubble are the other key factors contributing to smog.

At least three road projects initiated by the Lahore Development Authority are currently under way in the city. These are the Sheranwala Flyover, the Gulab Devi Underpass and the Shahkam Chowk Flyover. These sites are heavily contributing to the spread of PM2.5.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), instead of issuing health warnings to protect the citizens from the menace, is accused of concealing the data on air quality so that it can escape media criticism and public accountability.

It may be mentioned here that eight out of the nine air-quality monitoring stations in Lahore are currently either out of order or do not have the capacity to detect the presence of PM2.5. Only one mobile van of the EPA is said to be measuring the city’s AQI.

In the modern-day world, smog is considered a serious environmental and health hazard. The pollutants in the air can cause eye and/or throat irritation and may lead to difficulty in breathing. When there is smog in other parts of the world, schools are closed, and children and the elderly are advised to stay indoors. Besides, travel in private cars is restricted. But here, no such measures have been taken by the government.

But the public shouldn’t wait for the government to tell them to take preventive measures; they should start wearing sunglasses and cover their faces with masks every time they step out of the house.

Dr Tariq Chishti, a general physician and a dermatologist, tells TNS that said smog may cause serious health conditions, particularly to do with eyes, skin and lungs. Besides, people with asthma, emphysema or bronchitis should avoid/ restrict their movement outdoors.

Smog, he elaborates, can “inflame the breathing passages, decreasing the lung’s capacity, and cause shortness of breath, pain in inhaling, wheezing, and cough.

“Smog may also contribute to the spread of coronavirus.”

Ali Ejaz, a district officer in the Environment Protection Department, claims that the EPA is taking several measures to minimise the impact of smog. These measures include the closure of brick kilns, checking the smoke-emitting vehicles and shutting the industrial units found violating the environmental laws.

The writer is a city   reporter at The News