Smog season begins: Lahore air hits 'very unhealthy' level as Punjab readings swing; how to protect your health

Key takeaways

• Lahore recorded a "very unhealthy" US AQI of 210 at around 10pm on Wednesday, with the worst reading of 298 at the Urban Unit station in Lahore Cantonment, according to IQAir data reported by The Express Tribune.
• The Punjab EPA's official network showed lower readings on Wednesday, with Kot Addu (183) the highest in the province and Lahore at 143.
• At 8am on Thursday, the Punjab EPA's Lahore average was 100 ("satisfactory"), but one station, Kahna Nau, was still at 178. The city's highest reading of the past week was 218 early on 13 October.
• IQAir and the Punjab EPA use different monitoring stations, so their numbers do not always match.
• Children, older people and anyone with breathing or heart conditions are advised to limit outdoor activity on high-pollution days.

What the numbers show

Different monitoring networks gave different pictures on Wednesday, so it helps to look at both.

IQAir (as reported by The Express Tribune): Lahore's US AQI reached 210 late on Wednesday, in the "very unhealthy" band, and the Urban Unit station in Lahore Cantonment touched 298. Kot Addu was also reported at 212.

Punjab EPA (official provincial network): The highest reading in Punjab on Wednesday was Kot Addu at 183, followed by Vehari (171), Jhelum (169) and Sahiwal (162). Lahore was at 143. Rawalpindi (68), Jhang (52) and Nankana Sahib (40) had much cleaner air.

Thursday morning (Punjab EPA, 8am, 15 October):

Weather outlook

The Pakistan Meteorological Department forecast rain, wind and thunderstorms in upper and central Punjab on Wednesday from a westerly wave, The Express Tribune reported. For Thursday, the Met Office expects mainly dry weather in most of the country, with isolated rain, wind and thunderstorms possible in north-eastern Punjab.

Who is most at risk

Health advisories cited by The Express Tribune say the most vulnerable groups are:

• children,
• older people, and
• people with existing breathing or heart conditions.

Simple steps to protect yourself

Based on the advisories issued this week:

• Check the AQI before going out — the Punjab EPA publishes live readings by city and area.
• Limit outdoor activity when the AQI is high.
• Wear a mask outdoors on bad-air days and keep windows closed.
• Use an air purifier indoors if you can.
• Avoid smoking and keep a healthy diet.
• People with chronic conditions should monitor oxygen levels and blood pressure, and keep equipment such as a nebuliser at hand if needed.
• See a doctor if you have breathing difficulty, chest pain or a persistent cough.

What to watch

• Daily Punjab EPA readings over the coming weeks.
• Any smog-related orders from the Punjab government.

This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Please consult a doctor about your own health.