STATUS OF AMBIENT AIR IN THREE AREAS AND ITS EFFECTS ON RESIDENTS OF KARACHI

Abstract

The purpose of present investigation is to describe present status of air pollution in three (03) different areas of Karachi. It is hoped that information will provide of this better planning for pollution control. Karachi comprises of more than eighteen million population, who lives in acute and continual condition. NO, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxide of nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2), methane and its derivative are generated from different sources. Fifteen particles of ambient air have been sampled from three (03) locations of Karachi in order to study the quantitative analysis of the ambient air and its possible effects on the human population. For this purpose, air sampling quality was done in various areas such as Sohrab Goth, North Nazimabad and Defence to sample ambient air quality. Total ten (10) different gases and five (5) environmental parameters were analyzed. The concentrations of the pollutants of the ambient air usually found high in winter while moderate in summer season. The parameters of carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O3)analyzed for three years are found below the NEQS while the highest mean average level of SO2 95.75 ?g/m³ which is above the National Environmental Quality Standard (NEQS) recorded in June only. The highest mean average value 6527.59 ?g/m³, 3743.18 ppb, 9565.31 ppb, 81.17 ?g/m³ of methane (CH4), non methane hydrocarbon (NMHC), total hydrocarbon carbon (THC) and methane carbon (MC) are found in the months of December, August, March and February. The highest mean average value of Wind Speed (WS) and Temperature (Temp) are recorded in the months of October and December. The highest mean average value among all three areas of NO, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), oxide of nitrogen (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2)91.41 ?g/m³, 87.18 ?g/m³, 113.03ppb, 171.18 ?g/m³ are found in Sohrab Goth which is above the NEQS. While 6527.59 ?g/m³ of methane (CH4) in Defence, 3870.37 ppb of non methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) in Sohrab Goth and 10244.64 ppb of total hydrocarbon carbon (THC) in North Nazimabad are also found higher as compared to Defence and Sohrab Goth. Key words: Ambient Air, Air Pollution, Parameters , Pollutants, Locations