LAHORE: The city\u2019s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 156, placing it in the \u201cunhealthy\u201d category, according to air monitoring data released on Wednesday. At this level, air pollution poses health risks to the general population, while individuals with respiratory or heart conditions, children, and the elderly may experience more serious effects. Residents were advised to limit prolonged outdoor activities, particularly during peak traffic hours when pollution levels tend to rise further. Meanwhile, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) was measured at 12.5 times higher than the World Health Organization\u2019s (WHO) annual guideline value. PM2.5 particles, which are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, are linked to a range of health problems, including asthma, bronchitis, heart disease, and other chronic respiratory illnesses. Health experts warn that sustained exposure to such elevated pollution levels can significantly increase the risk of long-term complications. Environmental specialists attribute the deteriorating air quality to a combination of vehicular emissions, industrial activity, construction dust, and stagnant weather conditions that prevent pollutants from dispersing. They have called for stricter enforcement of emission controls, promotion of public transport, and greater public awareness to mitigate the worsening air pollution crisis. APP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE: The city\u2019s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 156, placing it in the \u201cunhealthy\u201d category, according to air monitoring data released on Wednesday. At this level, air pollution poses health risks to the general population, while individuals with respiratory or heart conditions, children, and the elderly may experience more serious effects. Residents […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-534876","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n