Pollution In Pakistan Research Articles

Maritime Pollution in Pakistan and Its Impact on Marine Life: Challenges and Way Forward

Marine pollution is a major threat to marine biodiversity, ecosystems and socio-economic conditions of coastal communities in Pakistan. Driven by industrial, agricultural and plastic pollution, mounting levels of marine pollution are largely resulting in habitat destruction, biodiversity loss and difficulties in conduct of subsistence activities. Lack of waste management system and public awareness further compound the problem. The present study gives a comprehensive analysis of marine pollution, its sources, types and mechanism as well as the damage is does to marine environment. The study also examines existing domestic and international legislation on marine pollution eradication and puts forth recommendations in the form of both short and long terms measures for pollution mitigation in Pakistan. The study also emphasizes the need to sensitize public attention on this pressing issue and advocates awareness campaigns regarding oil spill response preparedness, investment in resilient infrastructure and plastic pollution eradication initiatives. Long term measures stem from analysis of several case studies of island countries. These measures include protection of critical infrastructure, ecosystem conservation as well as increased research and development. Effective implementation of these measures can help Pakistan transition into a sustainable and secure future.

Low mercury risks in paddy soils across the Pakistan

Mercury (Hg) is a globally distributed heavy metal. Here, we study Hg concentration and isotopic composition to understand the status of Hg pollution and its sources in Pakistan's paddy soil. The collected paddy soils (n = 500) across the country have an average THg concentration of 22.30 ± 21.74 ng/g. This low mean concentration suggests Hg pollution in Pakistan was not as severe as previously thought. Meanwhile, samples collected near brick kilns and industrial areas were significantly higher in THg than others, suggesting the influence of Hg emitted from point sources in certain areas. Soil physicochemical properties showed typical characteristic of mineral soils due to the study area's arid to semi-arid climate. Hg stable isotopes analysis, depicted mean Δ199Hg of −0.05 ± 0.12‰ and mean δ202Hg −0.45 ± 0.35‰, respectively, for contaminated sites, depicting Hg was primarily sourced from coal combustion by local anthropogenic sources. While uncontaminated sites show mean Δ199Hg of 0.15 ± 0.08‰, mean Δ200Hg of 0.06 ± 0.07‰ and mean δ202Hg of −0.32 ± 0.28‰, implying long-range transboundry Hg transport through wet Hg(II) deposition as a dominant Hg source. This study fills a significant knowledge gap regarding the Hg pollution status in Pakistan and suggests that the Hg risk in Pakistan paddies is generally low.

The Impact of Renewable Energy; Financial Development and Economic Growth on Carbon Emission: Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

This research investigates the impact of renewable energy; financial development, economic growth, nonrenewable energy and natural resource rents on carbon emissions in Pakistan. An annual data series ranging from 1990 to 2022 is used; while Pesaran’s et al. (2001) cointegration test is utilized and empirical results confirm that renewable energy, financial development, nonrenewable energy and economic growth have long run cointegrating relation with carbon emissions. The results further provide evidence that utilization of clean energy combats carbon emission while financial development, economic growth and unclean energy promote carbon emission. Natural resource rents also help in combating carbon emission but only in long run. These results are reliable as guided by diagnostics used in this research. This research suggests that both clean energy and natural resources must be promoted to combat carbon emissions while financial development; economic growth and nonrenewable energy may be escalated carefully because these are promoting environmental pollution in Pakistan.

Unveiling the Spatial Dimensions of Light Pollution in Pakistan: An Emerging Environmental Challenge

The study aims to investigates about the growing and serious concern of light pollution as an emerging environmental challenge in Pakistan. The study also attempts to analyze the spatial dimensions of this issue, including its implications for biodiversity and public health. The study also attempts to analyze the spatial dimensions of this issue, including its implications for biodiversity and public health. In Pakistan, a notable research gap exists regarding the environmental impact of light pollution. Despite the absence of policies regulating artificial lighting, and a lack of public awareness on this issue, there is a pressing need for comprehensive research to address and mitigate the adverse effects of excessive artificial light in the country. This descriptive study employs spatial mapping techniques to investigate and highlight the pervasive issue of light pollution in Pakistan. Utilizing geographic information, the research analyzes and visually represents the spatial distribution of artificial lighting, providing a comprehensive understanding of the extent and intensity of light pollution across the country. It is found that the most light-polluted regions in Pakistan encompass the northern, eastern, and central sectors of Punjab, the southwestern and central areas of Sindh, the central part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the western region of Baluchistan. The study indicate that artificial sources of nightlight primarily cause light pollution in urban areas. This heightened light pollution coincides with major urban centers such as Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan, Karachi, Hyderabad, Peshawar, and Quetta situated in these areas. Due to strong spatial effects, the light pollution extends from urban regions to their neighboring rural areas and depleting their dark spaces. Similarly, it is observed that, this strong spatial effect also causing light pollution alongside Indian border, substantiate the fact that light pollution from the urban regions of India creating light pollution in Pakistan. Furthermore, the study recommends comprehensive policy measures, including zoning regulations, public awareness campaigns, and technological solutions, to mitigate the adverse effects and spatial spread of light pollution.

Corrigendum: Evaluating the potential footprints of land use and land cover and climate dynamics on atmospheric pollution in Pakistan

Corrigendum: Evaluating the potential footprints of land use and land cover and climate dynamics on atmospheric pollution in Pakistan

Evaluating the potential footprints of land use and land cover and climate dynamics on atmospheric pollution in Pakistan

Evaluating the potential impacts of land use and land cover change (LULCC) and climate change on air pollution is crucial to unravel the driving forces and mechanisms behind changes in air quality. A multi-faceted approach was adopted, including a land change model (LCM) and Mann–Kendall (MK) test, to evaluate the transition of land cover type, changes in climate, and atmospheric pollutants during 2004–2021 in Pakistan. Moreover, a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model and a mathematical model were used to assess the potential contribution of LULCC and climate dynamics to atmospheric pollution. It was revealed that during 2004, croplands covered an area of 9.72 × 104 mile2, accounting for 38% of the total area. However, the area of the croplands increased to 10.1 × 104 mile2, accounting for 40% of the total area in 2021. The MK test showed that the north and west–south regions significantly experienced air pollution, with the increasing trend for nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) being 0.89× 1015 molecules/cm2 per year and 0.54 DU/year, respectively. For climate variability, mean precipitation (Precp) and mean surface pressure (SP) showed a prominent increasing trend, with a maximum value of 1 mm/year and 0.01 Kpa/year, respectively. The mean temperature maximum (Tmax) showed an increasing and decreasing trend, with the highest value of 0.28°C/year and 0.08°C/year, respectively. In the context of contribution, the conversion of cropland to grasslands increased the trend for SO2 concentrations. The highest increasing trend of 1.5 DU for ozone (O3) was found due to conversion of grasslands to shrublands. Additionally, regional climate played a significant role in making air pollution stagnant across the country. Precp and wind speed (WS) contributed significantly in escalating NO2 concentrations in Pakistan, while Precp contributed most (0.004 DU) to increasing SO2 concentrations. For O3, the most influential climate factor was Precp. These results on a long-term temporal scale demonstrated how maintaining climate variability through comprehensive land use management can help improve ambient air quality in Pakistan.

Air Pollution: A Challenge to Public Health and Healthcare Systems

Air Pollution: A Challenge to Public Health and Healthcare Systems

Impact of transportation infrastructure and urbanization on environmental pollution: evidence from novel wavelet quantile correlation approach.

In terms of achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), the developing economies are facing many issues, and one of the key issues is environmental degradation. Being a developing economy, Pakistan is also experiencing thought-provoking impacts of global warming and still far away from the ideal track of sustainable development. For addressing environment-related issue and achieving the targets of SDGs, a policy-level reorientation might be necessary. In this view, this study investigates the impact of economic growth, transport infrastructure, urbanization, financial development, and renewable energy consumption on CO2 emissions by using the data of Pakistan during 1990-2020. For this purpose, we use novel wavelet quantile correlation approach. The empirical results of wavelet quantile correlation approach demonstrate that economic growth, transport infrastructure, urbanization, and financial development are responsible for environmental pollution. Whereas, result also claims that renewable energy consumption is a useful tool for reducing environmental pollution in Pakistan. Moreover, the results of FMOLS approach show that 1% increase in economic growth, transportation infrastructure, urbanization, and financial development increases CO2 emissions by 0.240, 0.010, 0.478, and 0.102%, respectively. However, 1% increase in renewable energy usage reduces CO2 emission by 1.083%. Based on the empirical outcomes, this study proposes comprehensive policy framework for achieving the targets of SDG 7 (clean energy), SDG 8 (economic growth), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities), and SDG 13 (climate action).

Assessment and Exposure Analysis of Trace Metals in Different Age Groups of the Male Population in Southern Punjab, Pakistan.

In developing countries, like Pakistan, the pursuit of urbanization and economic development disrupts the delicate ecosystem, resulting in additional biogeochemical emissions of heavy metals into the human habitat and posing significant health risks. The levels of these trace elements in humans remain unknown in areas at higher risk of pollution in Pakistan. In this investigation, selected trace metals including Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb) Cadmium (Cd), Cobalt (Co), Nickel (Ni), and Arsenic (As) were examined in human hair, urine, and nail samples of different age groups from three major cities (Muzaffargarh, Multan, and Vehari) in Punjab province, Pakistan. The results revealed that the mean concentrations (ppm) of Cr (1.1) and Cu (9.1) in hair was highest in Muzaffargarh. In urine samples, the mean concentrations (μg/L) of Co (93), As (79), Cu (69), Cr (56), Ni (49), Cd (45), and Pb (35) were highest in the Multan region, while As (34) and Cr (26) were highest in Vehari. The mean concentrations (ppm) of Ni (9.2), Cr (5.6), and Pb (2.8), in nail samples were highest in Vehari; however, Multan had the highest Cu (28) concentration (ppm). In urine samples, the concentrations of all the studied metals were within permissible limits except for As (34 µg/L) and Cr (26 µg/L) in Vehari. However, in nail samples, the concentrations of Ni in Multan (8.1 ppm), Muzaffargarh (9 ppm), Vehari (9.2 ppm), and Cd (3.69 ppm) in Muzaffargarh exceeded permissible limits. Overall, the concentrations of metals in urine, nail, and hair samples were higher in adults (39-45 age group). Cr, Cu, and Ni revealed significantly higher concentrations of metals in hair and water in Multan, whereas As in water was significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with urinary As in Multan, indicating that the exposure source was region-specific.

Fabrication, characterization, and application of light weight thermal insulation material from combined buffing dust and plaster of paris for construction industry

Buffing dust, generated from tannery industries, is a source of air pollution in Pakistan. Valorization of the waste into another useful material is important to deal with the environmental pollution, while reducing waste disposal costs in landfills. To demonstrate its technological strength, this work fabricates a thermal insulation material made of plaster of Paris and the buffing dust (from tanning waste) in the form of a composite with superior mechanical properties and low thermal conductivity. Buffing dust with concentrations ranging from 5 to 20% (w/w) were loaded in the composite. The samples synthesized were made slurry of plaster of Paris, buffing dust, and water at ambient temperature. The physico-mechanical properties of composite were analyzed. It was found that the composite had better thermal insulation properties than the panels of the plaster of Paris. Its thermal conductivity was reduced to 15% after adding buffing dust (20% w/w). All the materials had physico-chemical properties like tensile strength (0.02 MPa and 0.06 MPa), density (700-400 kg/m3), water absorption (5.2–8.6%) and thermal conductivity (0.17000–0.09218 W/m-K). Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the material was thermally stable at temperatures ranging from 145 to 177 °C, while FT-IR results revealed that the composite contained O–H, N–H, and CO functional groups. SEM analysis displayed that the composite's homogeneity was reduced with low voids due to buffing dust addition, while EDX analysis showed that the composite contained 23.62% of S, 26.76% of Ca, 49.2% of O and 0.42% of C. This implies that buffing dust could be recycled to manufacture heat insulation materials for construction sector to reduce air pollution, while minimizing energy consumption. By integrating the buffing dust from tanning waste and the plaster of Paris as a composite for construction sector, this work promotes the recycling of unused waste, while saving public funds. Instead of paying landfill fees and polluting soil, the waste may be recycled at lower cost, while reducing environmental damage.

A critical analysis of legal responses to water pollution in Pakistan

A critical analysis of legal responses to water pollution in Pakistan

Assessing the Impact of Public Behavior and Industrial Emissions on Ambient Air Quality in Pakistan

Air pollution is a growing environmental concern worldwide, and Pakistan is no exception. The study investigates the impact of industrial emissions, as well as public behavior, on air pollution in Pakistan. For this purpose, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among a sample size of 100 participants, including students, professors, and government employees. The goal was to assess their attitudes, practices, and understanding regarding air pollution, as well as their perception and contribution to the relevant issues and their role concerning industries and vehicles. The findings revealed significant insights into the prevailing situation. The respondents recognized the contributions of industrial emissions to pollution levels. However, a substantial portion of the participants exhibited limited knowledge regarding specific pollutants and their sources. These responses clarified certain facets regarding public behavior, including transportation choices, waste management practices, and energy-efficient technologies. It was evident that sustainable modes of transportation, such as cycling or public transportation, were underutilized, with personal vehicles being the primary choice. Furthermore, significant challenges were identified as a lack of proper waste management practices and the low adoption of energy-efficient technologies. Based on these findings, it is crucial to implement targeted interventions and raise awareness to address air pollution in Pakistan effectively. The study highlighted that there is adire need for increased education and public outreach initiatives to improve knowledge regarding air pollutants and their sources. Policies that support environmentally friendly transportation choices and encourage industry adoption of cleaner technologies should also be developed.

Assessment Of Air Pollution And Its Association With Population Health: Geo-Statistical Evidence From Pakistan

Human health is harmed by air pollution. The objective of this research was to show that air pollution in Pakistan is getting worse and is negatively impacting people’s health. IQ Air and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation provided the data for this descriptive research. Monthly data of PM2.5 μg/m³ from ten different localities across Pakistan are used to show spatial distribution through the geospatial technique of interpolation. The findings show that two third of the country has high PM2.5 concentration, with Lahore as the most polluted city. In Pakistan, solid fuel use has decreased, leading to a decline in associated mortality and morbidity. However, there have been significant increases in PM2.5 and ozone levels, resulting in a rise in the country’s overall health burden caused by air pollution. Furthermore, the number of deaths attributed to air pollution has also increased since 1990. A total of 57% of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 40% of lower respiratory infections, 36% of ischemic stroke, 35% of ischemic heart diseases, 32% of lung cancer, 25% of diabetes, and 20% of neonatal outcomes are directly attributed to air pollution in Pakistan. The main contributors to air pollution are population growth, growing motorization, and unsustainable energy usage. The main challenges due to air pollution control and monitoring in Pakistan include a lack of awareness, poor policy creation and implementation, the use of improper fuel, rising energy demands, and an absence of pollution monitoring stations in most cities. Therefore, there is a need for a robust air pollution monitoring system, increased public awareness, and the implementation of clean and sustainable policies to regulate this environmental health issue.

DOMESTIC LEGAL FRAMEWORK ON MARINE POLLUTION – A CRITICAL APPRECIATION

This scholarly inquiry undertakes a comprehensive and critical analysis of marine pollution (MP) as it pertains to the domestic legal framework of Pakistan, with particular emphasis on the paramountcy of oceans and the mounting exigencies confronting them. Marine pollution poses deleterious ramifications for ecosystems, living resources, human health, and maritime activities. In the context of Pakistan, multifarious causal antecedents underlie this phenomenon, encompassing industrial and agricultural runoff, shipping-related incidents, and the pervasive scourge of plastic pollution. Despite the existence of international conventions and domestic legislative enactments aimed at redressing this environmental malaise, the practical implementation thereof faces notable challenges, including shortcomings in enforcement and regulatory efficacy. To mitigate marine pollution in Pakistan, substantive efforts have been pursued, notably entailing the proscription of plastic bags, the deployment of advanced technologies for marine waste disposal, and the proactive advocacy of extended producer responsibility. Paramount among the international conventions are those mandating ship-owners' liability for oil spills, pivotal in safeguarding the sanctity of marine environments. Intrinsically intertwined with humanitarian and ecological import, the preservation of marine life mandates the promulgation of comprehensive legal edicts that assiduously protect marine ecosystems and proffer due reverence to the rights of marine denizens. Notwithstanding, the exigency to confront implementation obstacles within the Pakistani legal milieu accentuates the imperative for resolute enforcement mechanisms. Addressing these intricate challenges necessitates the adoption of proactive measures, notably the institutionalization of an autonomous industrial reporting system and exacting compliance with stringent environmental impact assessments. In summation, the efficacious resolution of marine pollution imperatives within Pakistan obliges the cultivation of a robust and meticulously enforced legal framework, profoundly attentive to sustainable marine resource management. Harmonizing international conventions with domestic jurisprudence holds indubitable import in perpetuating the sanctity of marine ecosystems and buttressing the well-being of humanity. Through rigorous legal scrutiny and judicious enforcement, the collective aspiration to ameliorate marine pollution resonates with heightened resonance and veracity.

Impact of Indoor Air Pollution in Pakistan—Causes and Management

This state-of-the-art review is designed to provide a factual analysis of indoor air pollution in Pakistan. Primarily, the main sources of indoor air pollution and related air pollutants were analyzed. Key sources of indoor air pollution include household energy sources (biomass, wood, coal, tobacco, and low temperatures) producing particulate matter (PM), dust particles, smoke, COx, noxious gases, bioaerosols, airborne microflora, and flame retardants. According to the literature, rural regions of Pakistan using biomass indoor fuels have a high indoor PM concentration in the range of 4000–9000 μg/m3. In rural/urban regions, indoor smoking also leads to high PM2.5 levels of ~1800 μg/m3, which can cause pulmonary infections. In hospitals, PM concentrations were detected up to 1000 μg/m3, causing repeated infections in patients. Indoor ingestion of dust containing polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations was observed at high levels (~8.79–34.39 ng/g) in cities; this can cause serious health effects such as cancer risks and a loss of working productivity. Moreover, indoor microflora and bacteria (~10,000–15,000 cfu m−3) in urban/rural regions cause respiratory/cancer risks. In this context, indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring and management strategies have been somewhat developed; however, their implementation in Pakistan’s rural/urban indoor environments is still needed. Various challenges were identified for monitoring/regulating IAQ. There is a firm need for industry–academia–research cooperation and for the involvement of government/agencies to support indoor air pollution control/management and for intervention strategies.

Is the environmental Kuznets curve valid for transport sector in Pakistan? New evidence for non-renewable energy and urbanization using the QARDL approach.

The transportation industry is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, particularly carbon dioxide. This study broadens the literature on environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) by assessing Pakistan's carbon dioxide emissions in the transport sector taking into account the impact of non-renewable energy, urbanization, and economic growth for the period of 1995-2018 using the novel QARDL model. Moreover, the outcomes of the study make a momentous benefaction to the literature by focusing a sector that contributes substantially to pollution in Pakistan. Specifically, the study finds that the EKC curve is confirmed for Pakistan's transportation sector in moderate to higher quantiles. Urbanization and non-renewable energy are also two other vital ingredients that dramatically aggravate the destruction of the environment. Except for the lowest (0.05th-10th) and highest (90th-95th) quantiles, urbanization affects transport-based carbon pollution positively. The study concludes by proposing some policy interventions for Pakistan.

Public awareness and willingness to pay for eliminating atmosphere pollution in Pakistan: A case study

Public awareness and willingness to pay for eliminating atmosphere pollution in Pakistan: A case study

Forecasting of Air Quality Using an Optimized Recurrent Neural Network

Clean air is necessary for leading a healthy life. Many respiratory illnesses have their root in the poor quality of air across regions. Due to the tremendous impact of air quality on people’s lives, it is essential to devise a mechanism through which air pollutants (PM2.5, NOx, COx, SOx) can be forecasted. However, forecasting air quality and its pollutants is complicated as air quality depends on several factors such as weather, vehicular, and power plant emissions. This aim of this research was to find the impact of weather on PM2.5 concentrations and to forecast the daily and hourly PM2.5 concentration for the next 30 days and 72 h in Pakistan. This forecasting was done through state-of-the-art deep learning and machine learning models such as FbProphet, LSTM, and LSTM encoder–decoder. This research also successfully forecasted the proposed daily and hourly PM2.5 concentration. The LSTM encoder–decoder had the best performance and successfully forecasted PM2.5 concentration with a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 28.2%, 15.07%, and 42.1% daily, and 11.75%, 9.5%, and 7.4% hourly for different cities in Pakistan. This research proves that a data-driven approach is essential for resolving air pollution in Pakistan.

Assessment of Sustainable Biomass Energy Technologies in Pakistan Using the Analytical Hierarchy Process

Pakistan is not merely confronting the energy crisis but also dealing with the scarcity of economical technologies for the utilization of energy resources. From the basic resources, renewable energy is one of the considerable resources. Due to environmental issues related to greenhouse gases (GHGs) and air pollution in Pakistan, the other energy resources are constricted. In rural areas, biomass resources are a fundamental need for domestic purposes. The prominent reason for environmental degradation and deforestation is due to ineffective use of such resources. Biomass resources for heating and cooking purposes are abundantly available in rural areas of Pakistan. In this context, this study helps us select the applicable cookstove technologies for the Sindh province for the proper utilization of biomass resources. The AHP (analytical hierarchy process) was used as the central methodology for the cookstove ranking. Concerning its improvement, four main criteria corresponding to 12 sub-criteria were considered for the selection of three cookstove technologies, i.e., traditional cookstoves (TCS), efficient cookstoves (ECS), and biogas cookstoves (BCS). The final decision of the AHP framework exposed the ECS technology as the advantageous technology, followed by the BCS and TCS, respectively. To analyze the results, a sensitivity analysis of the major results has also been carried out, and under the final ranking matrix, the ECS alternative got the highest weightage, nearly 36.56%, based on the developed model.

Consumers’ switching intentions from conventional to green vehicles in the context of smog risk in Pakistan

The heavy smog pollution in all the urban areas of Pakistan is disturbing everyday life very badly. Most of the smog pollution comes from transportation, and it is triggering many health problems. The government of Pakistan is struggling to alleviate smog pollution by introducing green vehicles and new modes of transportation. The Push-Pull and Mooring (PPM) framework was employed to examine the switching intentions of people from conventional vehicles toward green vehicles in the context of smog. Results depicted that smog knowledge, perceived environment health risk, decision self-efficacy, willingness to pay, and alternative attractiveness positively impact the switching intentions toward green vehicles. In the parallel, normative environment and regulative environment have a negligible effect on switching intentions. Push and pull factors also have a significant moderating affect with the interaction of mooring factors on switching intentions. It can be concluded that push–pull and mooring factors could enhance the switching intentions toward green vehicles. Thus, these factors might be helpful to switch from motorized vehicles to green vehicles, which might be effective in reducing smog pollution in Pakistan.