A Study of Environmental Issues and Air Pollution Control Strategies in Faisalabad, Pakistan using Geographical Information System (GIS)

The increased occurrence of smoggy days in major Pakistan cities is of major concern to the general public. This paper explores the major sources of pollutants total suspended particles and lead concentration, a key contributor to the smog in Faisalabad, one of the largest cities in Pakistan. Evidence indicates that the total suspended particles and lead concentration formed through NOx, SOx, NH3, VOCs, etc. have a strong impact on human health. As a result, air pollution control should not simply focus on controlling particulate emission, but should involve adopting an integrated multi pollutant control strategy. In addition to identifying the major sources of air pollution, this paper explores its impact on environmental and human health. The results also compare with the permissible limit of NEQS and USEPA standards. The study shows that TSP concentration 80% values within the permissible limits of ambient air quality according to the standards of USEPA and NEQS. In the samples, Lead concentration is higher than the USEPA and NEQS standards of ambient air quality 1.5 mu g/m(3) and 21 mu g/m(3) respectively. The research suggests that adequate government regulation, public awareness, regional collaboration and industrial compliance are keys to successfully controlling air pollution.