ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Ambient Air Quality & Noise Level Monitoring
of Different Areas of Lahore (Pakistan) and
Its Health Impacts
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1
Department of Environmental Sciences, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore, Pakistan
2
GIS analyst WWF, Pakistan
Submission date: 2017-10-03
Final revision date: 2017-12-07
Acceptance date: 2018-01-02
Online publication date: 2018-09-10
Publication date: 2018-12-20
Corresponding author
Almas Hamid
Environmental Sciences, KINNAIRD COLLEGE FOR WOMEN, 93-Jail Road, 54000 Lahore, Pakistan
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(2):623-629
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ABSTRACT
The present study assesses ambient air quality in terms of the gaseous pollutants sulfur dioxide
(SO2), nitrogen oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), total suspended particulates (TSP), and noise levels
at four busy road intersections, along with their associated residential areas in Lahore, Pakistan. A dense
transport system and extensive industry are major causes of serious damage to the urban environment
and human health in Lahore. Air and noise monitoring was conducted in the mornings, afternoons,
and evenings for 3 consecutive days of a month for a period of 8 months. Results showed that average
concentrations of SO2 at study sites throughout the monitoring cycle were in the range of 0.005 ppm
to 0.062 ppm, while average NO concentrations varied between 0.5 ppm and 1.34 ppm. CO concentrations
were recorded between 9.5 ppm and 16.75 ppm, whereas the average concentrations of TSP ranged
622-1046 μg/m3. The average noise levels ranged from 67.2 dB to 120.1 dB. Moreover, a questionnaire
survey carried out to examine the health impacts of pollutants on potential receivers such as workers,
laborers, shop-keepers, nearby residents, and traffic wardens showed the existence of various diseases
among respondents due to deteriorating air quality and elevated noise levels.