Abstract:
Islamabad, the capital city of Pakistan is facing the air pollution problems although the severity of the issue is comparatively less than other major cities of the country. Thirty (30) days continuous gaseous air pollutants monitoring at thirty (30) different locations is carried out in potential hotspot areas of Islamabad i.e. Sector I-10, Sector I-9 and Kahuta Triangle industrial area. Monitoring parameters were NO, NO₂, NOx, SO₂, CO, O₃, CH₄, Non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), and Total Hydrocarbons (THCs) alongwith other meteorological parameters. Twenty four (24) hours average recorded values of all the parameters are compared with National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) for ambient air of Pakistan. SO₂, NO2, CO and O₃ average values at all locations are well within permissible limits of NEQS except one each higher values of SO₂ and NO2 at two different locations of Sector I-10. NO concentrations at 22 locations out of 30 are exceeding from standard value by 2 to 5 times. Although NO2 values are within safe limit but at the threshold of acceptable NEQS value. Out of three monitoring areas i.e. Sector I-10, Sector I-9 and Kahuta Triangle the maximum concentration of gaseous air pollutants are observed in order of Sector I-10 ˃ Sector I-9 ˃ Kahuta Triangle. Generally higher gaseous air pollutants are recorded around the industrial areas of Sector I-10 and Sector I-9 as well as along the roadside monitoring points especially IJP Road. Major contributors of gaseous pollutants in Islamabad are vehicular as well as industrial emission. In Pakistan ambient air quality is deteriorating day by day. In these circumstances there is dire need of establishment of network of air quality monitoring system as well as strong environmental enforcement mechanism in the country
