PRELIMINARY MONITORING OF PARTICULATE MATTER AND GASEOUS EMISSIONS RELEASED FROM VEHICLES NEAR RAILWAY STATION LAHORE, PAKISTAN

In all over the world air pollution is becoming a serious problem with enhancing of industrialization and development. Transport is a major key component of development and also a major source of ambient air pollution. The main constitute of air pollution are particulate matters and gaseous emissions. The present study was carried out to measure the concentration of gases e.g.CO, NO and PM2.5 released from vehicles at railway station Lahore, Pakistan. The CNG rickshaws were selected at the rickshaw stand of the railway station for monitoring of gaseous emissions and PM2.5. Results showed that the concentration of gaseous emissions and PM2.5 were significantly higher than the permissible limits given by NEQS. The CNG rickshaws have less emissions of SO2 but the concentration of other gases released from these rickshaws were high. Moreover, the vehicles are the major contributor of gaseous emissions and PM2.5 pollution which have hazardous effects on air quality of the area. Emissions of different gases from vehicles are causing serious problems for the health of living beings. Emissions can be mitigated by using catalytic converter, alternate fuel, modification in engines and using pollution control devices which leads towards cleaner and sustainable environment.