Dry weather, increased vehicular emissions leave Islamabad's air quality unhealthy.

ISLAMABAD -- The prevailing dry weather, increased humidity and vehicular emissions in the federal capital had caused the air quality unhealthy since November as hazardous pollutants ratio was recorded beyond permissible limits.

The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) available air quality data showed high value of particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5).

According to recent air quality report released by EPA, the particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) had not only exceeded the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of 35 micrograms per meter cube (mg/mA3) rather also the World Health Organization (WHO) fine particulate matter of 2.5 microns 24 hours mean of 20 micrograms per meter cube.

The pollution level comprising particulate matter of 2.5 microns (PM2.5) has exceeded the permissible ratio of 35 micrograms per cubic meter (mg/mA3) which was recorded 63.02 mg/mA3, the highest ever in the federal capital.

World Health Organization (WHO) in it's reports had claimed air pollution to cause huge number of premature deaths. PM 2.5 had been found hazardous pollutant which could penetrate into...