Conjunctivitis and air pollution
Conjunctivitis and air pollution
Currently, dengue is spreading in the country, along with conjunctivitis, the disease has also spread, and smog and air pollution have made up for it. Air pollution refers to the emission of various toxic gases or other particles in the air Presence, emissions of these particles are harmful to human health and the planet as a whole. Long-term health effects of air pollution include chronic diseases such as heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory diseases. Air pollution can also cause long-term damage to people’s nerves, brain, kidneys, liver and other organs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes about 7 million deaths worldwide each year. Nine out of ten people breathe polluted air that exceeds WHO guidelines. Air pollution is defined as all the harmful effects of any source that contribute to the pollution of the atmosphere or the deterioration of the ecosystem. Air pollution is caused by both human intervention and natural phenomena. Air pollution not only contributes to climate change but is further exacerbated by toxic gases. Environmentalists say that air pollution in the form of carbon dioxide and methane increases the Earth’s temperature. 91% of the world’s population lives in places where the air quality is very poor according to the principles defined by the World Health Organization.
A new study has found that long-term exposure to air pollution can affect people’s mental abilities. The negative effects increase with age, and those affected the most Less educated. The use of zigzag technology in brick kilns in Punjab no longer produces plumes of smoke from the chimneys of brick kilns.
Anti-smog squads are patrolling the industrial areas of Lahore day and night and taking action against the smoke-emitting factories. The minimum fine is fifty thousand rupees and the factory may also be sealed. Kiln owners should not risk the lives of lakhs of people for a few coins or financial gain and install equipment that will spread pollution as little as possible. Earlier, we did not realize smog and air pollution because we thought it was fog in winter. Smog is actually a mixture of smoke and fog. It occurs when emissions from burning fuels react with sunlight. In early winter, when the air is heavy due to low temperatures, the air pollution along with it creates a layer in the atmosphere that gives the impression that the atmosphere is cloudy, but in fact this layer is sunlight and earth. There is a barrier like a membrane between. If we mention its disadvantages, they are that smog can irritate the eyes and throat and can also damage the lungs, especially for children, senior citizens, and people who work or exercise outdoors. Even worse for people who suffer from asthma or allergies
Inadequate legislation and lack of appropriate policies in developing countries result in high levels of air pollution causing disease incidence which is undoubtedly a heavy financial burden on society. Still most of us don’t know that low wind speed creates smog along with moisture pollution. According to experts, 63% of the smog in Lahore is caused by motorcycles and rickshaws, while 11% is caused by motor cars and jeeps. Motorcycle and rickshaw sales in Lahore have increased by 460% in the last decade. Incidents of crop residue burning are increasing in Sheikhupura and Okara. Now the season of smog danger is at its head and the smog control room of the Punjab government established in Lahore is in full swing to monitor the air pollution prevention activities. Currently, Lahore is the most polluted city in the world. The AQI of the most polluted area of Lahore never went above 180, while the effects of crop residue burning in Indian Punjab also affect the border areas of Pakistan. The Punjab government has also raised the issue of burning crops in India on international forums including the World Bank. As far as burning of crops, especially paddy residue is concerned, it is a very difficult task to remedy this bad habit in remote villages. Majority of farmers either do not know about the implementation of Section 144 or they do not take it into consideration. The Punjab government solved this problem by starting monitoring in remote areas with the help of satellites of National Space Research Organization (SPARCO). Now crop burning in a district is immediately reported to the concerned Deputy Commissioner who takes action through the Patwari or revenue staff concerned.
Action was also taken against hundreds of spreading industrial units. Closing such a large number of factories does not mean that the factories will remain closed forever, but they are opened after installation of air pollution reducing devices and fines. Apart from factories, the main cause of smog spread is the smoke of vehicles and anti-smog squads are keeping an eye on the vehicles emitting smoke at the entrances of Lahore. Due to the increasing risk of diseases due to air pollution, caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has decided to make the urban roads dust-free to prevent smog and in this regard LWMC has been entrusted with the task of washing the roads of Lahore. . In particular, instructions have been issued to complete the ongoing construction work on the roads of Lahore as soon as possible so that there is no problem of traffic jam on the road, while in consultation with experts and stakeholders, amendments in the environmental policy and framework to control air pollution (smog) have been issued. The work has been finalized. Now the district administration across the province is strictly enforcing the ban on the use of substandard fuel in all steel mills and factories. Currently, 43% of environmental pollution factors are related to transport, 25% to industry, 12% to power and 20% to agriculture. Special smog squads have been formed to take action against polluters while Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS) has been introduced to check the fitness of vehicles.