A study of Ambient Air Quality Status in Karachi, by Applying Air Quality Index (AQI). | [Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research (Series A: Physical Sciences) • 2018]

Author(s):

1. Durdana Rais Hashmi: Centre for Environmental Studies, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi-75280, Pakistan

2. Akhtar Shareef: Centre for Environmental Studies, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi-75280, Pakistan

3. Razia Begum Centrefor Environmental Studies: Centre for Environmental Studies, PCSIR Laboratories Complex, Karachi-75280, Pakistan

Abstract:

Present study was carried out to determine the concentration of ambient air quality in terms of atmospheric trace gases and air born particulate matter (PM10) at 20 different locations on the busy roads in the commercial, residential and industrial areas of Karachi city. Concentrations of trace gases and particulate matter were used to calculate the results in terms of air quality index (AQI). At each selected location the assessment was carried out to estimate the concentrations of trace gases and particulate matter for a period of 8 h during January - November, 2015. Samples were collected at twenty selected locations i.e., Jail Road (R-1), Gulberg chowrangi (R-2), Gulshan-e-Iqbal (R-3), PECHS Society (R-4) and Model Colony (R-5) in residential areas, paramount ground, Landhi (I-1W), Abbott, Landhi (I-2W), Lucky Textile, Landhi (I-3W), Naurus G belt, SITE (I-4E), Siemens G. belt, SITE (I-5E), Manghopir, SITE (I-6E), Singer chowrangi, KIA (I-7W), Chamra chowrangi, KIA (I-8W) and Korangi #2 (I-9W) Port Qasim (1-10) in industrial areas, Hasan Square (C-1), Liaquatabad (C-2), Garden (C-3), Gulistan-e-Johar (C-4) and NIPA chowrangi (C-5) in commercial areas of the city. Results were used to analyse the concentrations of the pollutants for air quality index (AQI). Air quality index is a single number to measure the quality of air with respect to its effects on the human being. Results received from different air quality categories were calculated according to national ambient air quality standard at selected locations, as residential areas Gulshan-e-Iqbal (R-3) and PECHS Society (R-4) found the AQI under good category with respect to the trace gases and moderate for the PM10 pollution, having low traffic density, Gulberg chowrangi (R-2) and Model Colony (R-5) presents moderate AQI category for trace gases and PM10 with moderate traffic density, whereas Jail Road (R-1) found under moderate pollution category for trace gases and unhealthy level for PM10 due to high traffic flow. In industrial areas Singer chowrangi (I-7W), Chamrah chowrangi (I-8W) and Korangi #2 (I-9W) found under moderate pollution AQI values with moderate traffic density, Paramount ground (I-1W), Abbott (I-2W) and Lucky Textile (I-3W) found unhealthy AQI category pollution due to high traffic congestion whereas, Naurus G. belt (I-4E), Siemens G. belt (I-5E) and Manghopir (I-6E) locations are represented by moderate pollution AQI values for trace gases and found under poor pollution level for PM10 pollution, may be due to industrial emissions and heavy vehicular emission. In commercial areas as Hasan Square (C-1), Gulistan-e-Johar (C-4) and NIPA (C-5) having moderate AQI pollution level for trace gases and unhealthy PM10 level of pollution, may be due to high traffic density, whereas Liaquatabad (C-2) and Garden (C-3) locations found under poor and unhealthy pollution AQI category. These locations are situated in extremely overcrowded commercial areas having very high traffic density and commercial activities.

Page(s): 106-114

DOI: DOI not available

Published: Journal: Pakistan Journal of Scientific and Industrial Research (Series A: Physical Sciences), Volume: 61, Issue: 2, Year: 2018

Keywords:

Particulate Matter , air quality index , trace gases

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