Smog alert for Lahore: How to protect yourself from unhealthy air?

Punjab government has issued a smog alert to Lahore citizens, urging them to take precautions as the rising level of smog poses serious health risks.

Smog, mainly consists of a dense sheet of smoke and fog, is produced by sunlight reaction over hydrocarbons, compounds of nitrogen and industry’s pollution released through combustion of coal and vehicular pollutants. The situation becomes worse in winter due to the low-grade fuel used in industries as well as vehicles in the city of 14 million people. Dense cold air keeps this pollutant air close to the ground, while burring of seasonal crop on the outskirts of Lahore further aggravates the problem.

Who Is Most at Risk from Smog?

Children, elderly and people with weak immune system are particularly vulnerable during smog conditions. Some of the respiratory diseases that may arise include mild, moderate, and severe cases. Prolonged exposure over time may lead to worsening of these conditions and even cause more predisposed ones, such as shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, and sore throat, difficulty in breathing, pneumonia, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Protect Your Lungs from Smog

1. Watch for Local Air Quality: Consider indoor exercising when the air quality becomes unhealthy.
2. Limit Child Outdoor Time When Pollution Is High: Use masks while being outdoors. Make fewer trips outdoors during times when pollution is bad, and stay away from heavy-traffic roads when pollution levels are at their worst.
3. Use Less Energy in the Home: Conserve electricity, which helps decreasing overall air pollution.
4. Cut School Bus Emissions: Schools should not allow school buses to idle long; exhaust tends to collect around schools.
5. Reduce Vehicle Emissions: Walk, bike, carpool, or use public transportation as often as possible to get places.
6. Eliminate Burning of Wood and Trash: Burning contributes to particle pollution and poor air quality.
7. Use Environmental-Friendly Lawn Equipment: Compare to electric or gasoline equipment, electric and hand-powered mowers help improve the air you breathe.
8. Keep the Air Indoor Clean: Keep fresh air inside by closing the windows and use air purifiers.