Some densely populated and round the clock busy crossings in the Punjab capital have been badly affected by the fatal elements polluting the environment. Noise Level, Particulate Matter (PM) and NOx at Railway Station, Yadgar Chowk, Yateem Khana Chowk, Cheering Cross, Lohari Gate, Bhatti Chowk, Kalma Chowk, Niazi Chowk, Bank Square, Main Boulevard and Garhi Shahu Chowk, have assumed dangerous proportions.
According to a report prepared by the City District Government Environment Protection Department (EPD), noise level at all the above mentioned points has far exceeded the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards of 65db(A). A normal human being can tolerate 50 to 60db but it is 90db at Bhatti Chowk, 89db at Yadgar Chowk, 85 each at Main Boulevard and Kalma Chowk and 81db each at Niazi Chowk and Yateem Khana Chowk.
People exposed to such a heightened level of noise for an extended period are gravely susceptible to the danger of getting permanently deaf. Such a magnified noise level also causes insomnia, tension and other psychological problems.
WHO guideline for PM is 150(g/m3 but it has reached 1180(g/m3 at Lohari Gate. At Yateem Khana, it is 1123(g/m3, at Cheering Cross 1100(g/m3, at Bank Square 1050(g/m3 and at Niazi Chowk it is 1030(g/m3. PM is one of the major causes of tuberculosis. If no remedial measures are taken, people of the aforementioned areas could infect the dangerous epidemic in the future.
Level of NOx was maximum at Bank Square with 386 parts per billion (ppb) against the WHO recommended guideline of 75ppb. It was prevailing at about the similar scale at other busy points as well. NOx is an enemy of eyes and can create scores of eye problems.
People bound to turn up at the said places too frequently stand a great risk of developing eyesores and other eye irritations.
These and related other elements present in the smoke of vehicles are not only inimical to human health but can also cause damage to ecosystem.
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