Lahore City….threatened by Land Pollution ( Article )

Lahore, a city of Gardens is now becoming a city of garbage and dirt. Increasing trends of industrialization and commercialization has turned Lahore city into a store house of dirt. Garbage of houses,industries and factories are not disposed of properly instead they are put into water i.e ganda naala or in open land ares.

Light and heavy industrial units have been established in various city localities i.e. Misri Shah, Baghbanpura, Mughalpura, Daroghewala, Bhagat Pura, Chah Miran, Shadbagh and other localities along the Bund Road and GT Road. These industries include steel foundries, steel re-rolling mills, kilns, steel furnaces, scrap yards, plastic recycling industry, marble grinding, furniture making and several other kinds of cottage industries. All of these industries are spreading different types of 
pollutions especially air, noise, vibration and heat.

                                                                                                                                                                 

According to a rough estimate, over 700 industrial units including a major chunk of steel-related industries are causing serious environmental hazards especially noise and air pollution in various localities of Northern Lahore. Majority of these industrial units are operating in residential localities posing serious threat to human life.

Besides residential areas, a good number of industrial and commercial ventures are operating around historical monuments i.e. Shalimar Garden, Lahore Fort and Badshahi Mosque. The Environment Department of the CDGL had already served notices to many of these ventures but in vain.

Majority of industries especially steel-related ones are using used tyres and substandard rubber products to keep their machines running and these machines releases pollutants such as carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides and toxic metals, which are considered the major source of air pollution in the provincial capital without any control and check.

For many years, marble grinding and furniture manufacturing industries had been established in residential areas of Ichhra, Ferozpur Road and various other residential localities of Bund Road and Ravi Road. Similarly, College Road, Township, has also turned into a mini industrial zone with the establishment of marble grinding industry.

A good number of industrial units manufacturing spurious motor oil are located in Badami Bagh while Rim Market along the historical Lahore Fort is still a serious threat to the biggest archaeological site of the city.

Likewise, Kot Lakhpat Industrial Area is also surrounded by residential colonies and residents of these localities are facing air and other kinds of pollution. Another serious threat being faced by residents is the discharge of polluted water by industries in local drains.

Brandreth Road has become the hub of mechanical spare parts while localities such as Rehman Gallian, Landa Bazaar, Prem Gallian, Adda Crown have changed into manufacturing areas of these spare parts. People have installed high temperature furnaces, steel rubbing and polishing and other related cottage industries in their homes.

Gulshan-e-Ravi – a purely residential locality of the city – is also rapidly changing into a cottage industry zone. A large number of machinery manufacturing units were established in various blocks of this locality especially those close to Bund Road. Motor workshops and heavy body vehicle manufacturing is another rapidly increasing industry in this locality.

Our Government should take serious steps against the industries and factories  disposing  off their wastes and garbage improperly. The wastes of houses should also be disposed off properly.LDA should support this basic aim and must be helpful.A common citizen can also keep the city clean at his own level.

Interview with a General Health Consultant about effects of pollution in Human health and its prevention.

                        General Consultant: Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed
 (Ex-Principal King Edward Medical University Lahore and Allama Iqbal Medical College Lahore)

Interviewer: Hadia Batool

Hadia: Salam Dr.Sahb!

 Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Wasalam!

Hadia: Sir! Lets have a discussion on effects of pollution on human health.

Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Sure.

Hadia: Sir! As you are a  well experienced doctor treating patients for many years. What kind   of pollution related case you have seen in your life and how many were life threatening.

Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: In my span of treating patients, I have seen many patients affected by pollution. Mostly they were affected by land and water pollution. Some were also ill due to noise and radioactive pollution. People are mostly ill of diarrhea, cholera, dysentery and respiratory infections. Cholera, diarrhea and dysentery are primarily caused by poor hygienic condition, flies from heaps of garbage and from polluted contaminated water. Severe cases of cholera are mostly fatal. Air pollution causes respiratory problems.

Hadia: What are the main toxics produced by air pollution and what is their impact on human health?

Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Air pollution is very for human health. Toxins like sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides etc. are found in air in huge amount polluting air.The air pollution can cause diseases like asthma, allergies, and lung cancer

Hadia: What effect has smoking on health?

Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: One of the most common and toxic indoor air pollutants is cigarette smoke. Experts believe about 90% of lung cancers are caused by cigarette smoke.Smoking, or even inhaling secondhand smoke, increases your risk of heart attack and stroke.
Tobacco smoke contains many chemicals, some of which are known to cause cancer. If you are a nonsmoker and household members or coworkers will not stop smoking around you, ask that they smoke only in well-ventilated or isolated areas. Never smoke around children or allow them to be exposed to cigarette smoke, especially if they have asthma or allergies.
Hadia: Does only exposure to cigarette also affects human health?
Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: Exposure to cigarette smoke causes wheezing, coughing, and extra mucus (phlegm) in many children. Secondhand smoke also can cause fluid to build up in the inner ear, which can cause ear infections. Lower respiratory infections, such as pneumonia and bronchitis, are also risks. Sometimes these types of infections become serious enough to require a hospital stay, especially when they develop in babies and young children.
Babies who are exposed to secondhand smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Cigarette smoke may cause asthma in children. Also, children with asthma who are exposed to cigarette smoke have more attacks and more severe symptoms than other children with asthma.
Hadia: Sir! What are the preventive measures of saving yourself from pollution?           

Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: If we follow the following basic ways we can prevent ourselves much from pollution. Stop smoking or at least follow the “No Smoking” sign.Use unleaded gasoline in your cars. Keep your car properly maintained to keep it in good running condition to avoid smoke emissions.Share a ride or engage in car pooling.   Instead of using your cars, choose to walk or ride a bicycle whenever possible. With this eco-friendly practice, you will also be healthier and happier by staying fit. Never use open fires to dispose of wastes. Start composting brown leaves in your yard and green scraps from your kitchen. It will reduce waste while improving your yard and garden soils. Reconnect with nature. Live green by using green power supplied   abundantly and freely by wind and the sun. Hang your laundry to dry to minimize use of gas or electricity from your dryers. Enjoy fresh air from open windows to lessen the use of air conditioning system. Use eco-friendly or biodegradable materials instead of plastic which are made up of highly toxic substances injurious to your health. Create your green space. Value your garden. Plant more trees and put indoor plants in your homes. They clean the air, provide oxygen and beautify your surrounding. Thus, care for them and by protecting them, especially the big trees around and in the forest, you protect yourself and your family, too. Have a proper waste disposal system especially for toxic wastes.Take very good care of your pets and their wastes.  Never throw, run or drain or dispose into the water, air, or land any substance in solid, liquid or gaseous form that shall cause pollution.   Do not cause loud noises and unwanted sounds to avoid noise pollution. Do not litter in public places. Anti-litter campaigns can educate the populace.  Industries should use fuel with lower sulphur content. Industries should monitor their air emissions regularly and take measures to ensure compliance with the prescribed emission standards. Industries should strictly follow applicable government regulations on pollution control.

Hadia:I will also definitely follow these way and will ask people to do the same.Thank you Sir for giving your precious time and concern.

Prof. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed: My pleasure,you are always welcome.