New research raises concerns on growing air pollution crisis in Karachi

Air pollution in Karachi is causing serious respiratory health problems for its residents, specifically men, the elderly and patients with pre-existing pulmonary diseases. This is according to recent study by the Aga Khan University.

Published in the journal Atmospheric Pollution Research , this study focused on the urban population of Pakistan and revealed alarmingly high levels of harmful particles in Karachi’s air. The research found dangerous amounts of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which are tiny particles that can be easily inhaled and affect health. The air also contained high levels of sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, and black carbon, which are widespread across the city and contribute to poor air quality. The study measured levels of PM2.5 constituents at Karachi’s two busy sites; Korangi and Tibet Center on M.A. Jinnah Road. During the same time period, data was obtained from Karachi’s three leading hospitals: the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), and the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) for hospital visits for respiratory health issues.

Researchers found out that the average PM2.5 levels in Karachi are among the highest compared to other cities in both developed and developing countries and its concentration exceeded guideline values set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

While discussing these findings, Professor Zafar Fatmi, Section Head of Environmental, Occupational Health & Climate Change, Department of Community Health Sciences at Aga Khan University said, “PM2.5, known to pose the highest risk to human respiratory systems, is emitted in large quantities from anthropogenic activities, and has been proven to contribute to cases of chronic bronchitis, lung infections, and the worsening of pre-existing respiratory diseases across the study sites. It is high time we treat air pollution as a crisis and adopt measures to curb the increasing levels of PM2.5 in our environment.”