Problems
Peshawar's air pollution hurts locals
Peshawar has been declared the third most polluted city in Pakistan and the ninth most polluted city in the world in the Global Air Quality Report 2021. A new study by environmentalists found that the city of Peshawar has high levels of air pollution. The level of air pollution, especially during the winter months, puts the city among the most polluted cities in the world. In terms of health impacts, it affects at least five million people, increasing healthcare costs and reducing human development gains. Due to high levels of air pollution, the age of the city's residents is reduced by at least two to three years. The low interest is due to a lack of capacity to monitor air pollution.
Causes of air pollution in Peshawar
Environmentalists have found that the main sources of pollution are transport, industry, domestic use of solid fuels, household waste incineration, and dust. From 2012 to 2020, the number of registered vehicles in Peshawar increased by 85%, with motorcycles accounting for the largest increase (168.8%). Vehicle figures are likely understated, as a significant number of vehicles plying the roads are registered in Islamabad and other cities. "Peshawar also has the highest concentration of industry in the province and generates the most solid waste. Consumption of various fossil fuels in these sectors and their combustion are the drivers of air pollution in the city. Among these sources, transport emissions account for more than half (58.46%), followed by dust, the domestic sector, industry, waste incineration, and finally commercial activities," the experts' report said.
Peshawar Air Pollution by Exhaust Fumes
The transportation sector pollutes the environment, both through the use of low-quality fuel available at retail and through the sheer number of vehicles on the roads. Vehicles undergo significant wear and tear during their lifetime and emit particulate matter, especially through brake pads, and reduced engine efficiency. Separately, lead in gasoline and sulfur in high-speed diesel lead to particulate emissions. Because of the very high sulfur content (0.5-1%) in diesel fuel and the lack of Euro-5-compliant diesel engines, diesel particulate filters (DPFs) cannot be implemented. Some emissions from the commercial and industrial sectors are also probably related to fuel quality.
Waste incineration
Environmentalists have also found that burning biomass, both in the form of open burning of waste and household fuels, is a significant problem. Burning wood is common in rural areas, but is also used in many urban households. It is probably the largest contributor to household air pollution, which is known to be particularly harmful to the health of women who are exposed to smoke and particles during cooking and heating. The study recommends more monitoring opportunities to raise public awareness and take preventive measures, encourage greater use of public transportation, and develop alternative and subsidized heating methods to reduce wood burning.
Gallery
3
Timelines
2022
March 21
The PCAA study shows that the annual level of PM2.5 (particulate matter) in Peshawar ranged from 61.40 µg/m3 to 80.09 µg/m3, which is 4-5 times higher than the current national and provincial standards, as well as WHO guidelines for air quality by 12-16 times. The high level of PM2.5 has a significant impact on the health of the people of Peshawar. The city does not have an effective air quality monitoring network managed by the regulator, which has created this blind spot. According to the Air Quality of Life Index (AQLI), Peshawar residents can increase their life expectancy by 2.3 years if PM2.5 levels meet World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Turning that estimate around, it also means they are now losing those years to high levels of air pollution.
2021
November 23
Dr. Shafiqul Rehman, former head of the Department of Environment, University of Peshawar, told The Express Tribune that according to the World Health Organization (WHO), air quality should be 25 milligrams (mg) per cubic meter. However, in Peshawar, due to industrial activity, the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) readings are between 90 and 110 mg. "If the amount of dust, smoke, and zeolite content in the atmosphere exceeds the WHO limit, it is harmful to human health," Rehman said. He further added that Peshawar was geographically and climatically a dry city and due to insufficient rainfall, dirt and dust particles accumulate in large quantities in the air and further pollute the environment.
2019
November 24
The Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) instrument, developed by three Directorate of Science and Technology (DoST) experts from Khushal Khan Khattak Karak University, was installed at the National Institute of Management Sciences (NIMS) in Peshawar. The device is designed to understand the health effects of air quality and is used to make decisions about reducing short-term exposure to air pollution by adjusting activity levels during elevated air pollution levels. It collects various elements in the air such as dust particles (PM 10, PM 2.5), surface gases (ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and carbon monoxide), as well as temperature, humidity, and heat index. Team members Dr. Zubair and Dr. Khalid Khan noted that the locally developed instrument can assess 10 serious parameters of air pollution. He added that so far they have installed eight gadget stations at various major points of Peshawar which are connected to the cloud server in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa data center to collect environmental data.
2016
December 04
The Environmental Protection Agency says that levels of particulate matter (PM2.5), which increases the risk of age-related mortality, breach the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) guidelines in Peshawar. “PM2.5 levels at all sampling locations in Peshawar exceed NEQS limits. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 (10-15 years), which increases the age-related risk of mortality, is believed to have the greatest public health impact of particulate air pollution,” the EPA concluded. Currently, the minimum level of PM2.5 in Peshawar's air is 40 and the maximum is 90, while NEQS recommends that the level of fine particles in the air should not exceed 15 micrograms per cubic meter. An increase in the level of PM2.5 in the air becomes dangerous for human health and also impairs visibility. "The number of patients is increasing due to air pollution in Peshawar," said Dr. Afridi, a lung specialist. After passing through the respiratory system, these tiny particles settle in the lungs, he added.
2014
March 17
According to a 2011 World Health Organization (WHO) report, Peshawar was among the top 10 most polluted cities. Annual PM2.5 (particulate matter) levels in Peshawar ranged from 50.04 µg/m3 to 90.11 µg/m3. These numbers are a yearly average. Seasonal spikes can be many times higher.