Karachi: Rising air pollution in Karachi is creating severe respiratory health risks, particularly for men, the elderly, and those with existing lung conditions, reveals a recent study by Aga Khan University, published in Atmospheric Pollution Research.
The study focused on urban populations in Pakistan and found alarmingly high levels of PM2.5 particles in Karachi’s air. These microscopic particles, easily inhaled, are linked to respiratory problems. Dangerous concentrations of PM2.5 and other pollutants like sulfate, ammonium, nitrate, and black carbon were detected across the city, particularly at busy sites like Korangi and Tibet Center on M.A. Jinnah Road. Hospital data from NICVD, JPMC, and AKUH showed a significant correlation between rising pollution levels and respiratory issues among residents.
Karachi’s average PM2.5 levels exceed WHO guidelines, making the city’s air among the most polluted globally. Professor Zafar Fatmi from Aga Khan University emphasized the urgent need for action: “PM2.5 poses a critical threat to respiratory health, worsening chronic bronchitis, lung infections, and existing respiratory diseases. Addressing air pollution as an urgent crisis is essential to curb these rising PM2.5 levels.”
