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Traffic ‐and Industry‐Related Air Pollution Exposure Assessment in an Asian Megacity
Author(s) -
Alvi Muhammad Usman,
Chishtie Farrukh,
Shahid Imran,
Mahmud Tariq,
Hussain Riaz
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
clean – soil, air, water
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.444
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1863-0669
pISSN - 1863-0650
DOI - 10.1002/clen.201600773
Subject(s) - megacity , pollutant , industrialisation , particulates , air pollution , urbanization , air quality index , pollution , environmental science , environmental protection , environmental planning , particulate pollution , air pollutants , human health , business , natural resource economics , environmental engineering , geography , environmental health , economic growth , meteorology , political science , economy , medicine , ecology , chemistry , organic chemistry , economics , biology , law
Like other Asian countries, Pakistan is facing the issue of air pollution due to rapid urbanization, enormous transportation increases, and other related human activities. Moreover, continuously increasing emission sources have not only raised pollutant concentrations but also their types, thus damaging both human health and the environment. Faisalabad is the third largest megacity of Pakistan and its state of air quality is getting worse due to factors such as industrialization, high traffic volumes, and extensive fossil‐fuel‐burning activities. This review article aims to highlight the present status of air pollution in this city with special reference to particulate matter, elemental profiles, gaseous pollutants, organic–inorganic particulate contents as well as their sources. The concentration levels of these entities were also compared with other national and international cities, and related environmental standards. It is found that current levels of these pollutants are beyond safety limits as specified by various environment protection agencies and organizations. Several weak aspects and gaps are also identified along with suggestions for improvements of the present situation and directions for future research.