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JUNE 2011
INTERDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH IN BUSINESS VOL 3, NO 2
DETERMINATION OF AMBIENT AIR QUALITY STATUS OF HAYATABAD
TOWNSHIP, PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN
Zafar Mahmood
Department of Maths/ Stats & C.S., Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar
Nadeem Khan
Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Peshawar
Sania Munir(Corresponding Author)
Quality Enhancement Cell, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar
Muhammad Farooq
Department of Islamiyat & Pak. Study, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agricultural University Peshawar
Abstract
Air pollution is rapidly growing environmental problems of Pakistan. A study was conducted to
analyze the ambient air quality of Hayatabad Township, Peshawar. The objectives were to
investigate baseline data on ambient air quality of Hayatabad, identify the highly polluted points
of the study area and to give a guideline for managing better air quality of the study area. The
selected parameters CO, NO, SO 2 and noise level were studied and then compared with the
permissible limits of WHO standard. The data were collected from overall Hayatabad at seven
different sampling points for each sampling day. Three readings were noted in different periods
of time i.e. morning (8:00 to 10:00 am), noon (11:00 to 1:00 pm) and after noon (2:00 to 4:00
pm). The study indicated that the average concentration of CO measured along with climatic
condition at seven sampling points was not found to be higher than that of permissible limit of
WHO standards. So from CO point of view the air quality around the Hayatabad is suitable for
breathing. The concentration of nitrous oxide (NO) is ranges from 0.42ppm to 2.4ppm that is
above the permissible limit of WHO standards (0.053) and thus may harmful for health. The
concentration of SO 2 has been founded below detection limit (BDL), Therefore the air quality
near the industrial estate is suitable for breathing and is not harmful for health. Also, the level of
noise detected out side industries is within the limit and have no adverse impact on the people
working out the industries. So noise level will not affect the people. It was observed that the
concentration of selected parameters increases from morning to noon and afternoon. The level
was low at morning because there is no more traffic at night in the study area. The emitted
pollution at day diluted in the atmosphere at night and also due to dew factor which trap the
pollutants and settle it down. So the atmosphere became clean from late night till morning. An
increase in pollution were found as the vehicles and traffic starts moving again. It may be
concluded that the selected parameters (CO, NO, SO 2 and noise level) studied were with in the
permissible limits of WHO standard except NO and the ambient air quality of study area
(Hayatabad) is satisfactory.
Key Words: Air Pollution, Noise Level, Carbon Monoxide, Sulphur Dioxide, Nitrogen Oxide
Introduction
Air pollution is an abnormal component of the natural environment and the environmental
problems have acquired new dimensions now-a-days, resulting in the loss of biodiversity, threat
of climatic change, rise in sea level, and depletion of stratospheric ozone layer. Population
explosion has resulted in more and more industries, which is causing uncontrolled pollution in
the form of air, water, noise and waste generation problem (Chhatwal, 1989). The under going
study is concerned to the Air Pollution.
Miller, (2002), defined air pollution “The presence of one or more chemicals in the atmosphere
in sufficient quantities and duration to cause harm to human, other form of life, and materials”.
The major sources of air pollution are the generation and ever increasing requirement, of energy
in diverse sectors of economy, which has its local, regional and global environmental impacts.
COPY RIGHT © 2011 Institute of Interdisciplinary Business Research 946