Analysis of Particulate Matter Fraction in Residential Area of Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

Background: Air pollution have reached to an alarming level from the past few decades in Pakistan. An increasing trend in particulate matter (PM) pollution in the urban areas have been observed contributing to different health concerns to human like cardiovascular arrest, blood pressure, asthma, pulmonary dysfunction, many eye problems such as cataracts. Materials and Methods: To analyze the levels of air quality index in the urban areas at a residential site, in Pakistan, PM fractions PM10, PM2.5and PM1.0 were analyzed from 1st October 2022 to 31st March 2023 in provincial capital city Lahore by using a PurpleAir sensor located at Gulberg Town Lahore. Results: The average PM10 concentration of PM sustained at 200.96 µg/m3 ±138.37 µg/m3 for 6 months with maximum level in December 2022 (851.64 µg/m3 ± 160.58 µg/m3) with an average value of 287.96 µg/m3, and minimum level in March 2023 (10.12 µg/m3 ± 10.10 µg/m3) with an average 30.56 µg/m3. The average PM2.5 concentrations was recorded to 164.59 µg/m3 ± 110.16 µg/m3. for 6 months with maximum level in December 2022 (622.28 µg/m3± 119.06 µg/m3) with an average value of 229.93 µg/m3 and minimum level in March 2023 (9.16 µg/m3 ± 7.94 µg/m3) with an average of 25.24 µg/m3. The average PM1.0 concentration was recorded to 86.19 µg/m3± 51.50 µg/m3 for 6 months with maximum level in November 2022 (252.42 µg/m3 ± 47.54 µg/m3) with an average of 147.94 µg/m3 ± 47.54 µg/m3 and minimum level in March 2023 (5.89 µg/m3 ± 5.15 µg/m3) with an average value 15.89 µg/m3. Conclusion: Taken into consideration these findings it can be concluded that the high PM levels during November and December were due to the environmental factors including smog, burning of residual crops, brick kilns and excessive vehicle emission.