Greenhouse gas pollution, responsible for climate change, harms our health and impacts the environment, too. It reduces visibility, blocks sunlight, causes acid rain, and harms forests, animals and agriculture. This human-induced crisis affects the entire planet.
Several factors such as Industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust contribute to hazardous air quality levels. By October 2024, Lahore in Pakistan holds the title of the most polluted city on the planet. There is an air quality index of 232 attached to Lahore.
The primary sources of air pollution in Lahore include industrial activities, vehicular emissions and construction dust. People in the city often receive alerts about avoiding outdoor exposure to reduce health risks linked to poor air quality.
Understanding the ‘air quality index’ figure
Lahore in Pakistan stands is the most polluted city globally as of October 2024. Next comes Delhi in India at an air quality index of 204, Dakar in Senegal at 155, Kinshasa in DR Congo at 155, Dhaka in Bangladesh at 142 and Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia at 132.
There is Hanoi in Vietnam (carrying an air quality index of 128), Jakarta in Indonesia at 117, Kolkata in India at 113 and Bucharest in Romania at 106. The air quality index (aqi) is a number used to determine the quality of air in a particular location.
If the air quality index goes up in an area, the people there are often advised to stay indoors, limit outdoor activities or put on masks. They can also use air purifiers to breathe in fresh air. Long-term exposure to air pollution can be the reason for several diseases.
