Lahore, December 06, 2023 : On Wednesday, Lahore maintained its status as the most polluted city globally, recording an average pollution reading of 230.
As per air pollution data released by the Punjab Environment Protection Department, Shahra-e-Quaid-e-Azam retained its status as the most polluted area, registering a reading of 424.
The air pollution at Mall Road exceeded 400 on the Air Quality Index (AQI). Lahore Cantt areas recorded a 313 AQI reading. The interim Punjab government has recommended that the public wear face masks when venturing into crowded places.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is determined by assessing five pollution categories: ground-level ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide.
An AQI ranging from 151-200 is deemed unhealthy, a rating of 201-300 is considered more harmful, and an AQI exceeding 300 is classified as extremely hazardous.
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Experts suggest that air pollution levels rise during winter due to changes in wind speed, wind direction, and a decrease in minimum temperature.
In winter, the air becomes denser compared to summer, causing harmful particles in the atmosphere to descend and contribute to pollution. Consequently, a layer of polluted particles, including significant amounts of carbon and smoke, blankets the area.
