Air pollution is visible even from space! Millions of people are in danger
Dense air pollution covering Pakistan and India is causing health problems and leading to school closures. The air pollution observed in the region was captured by NASA satellites.
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Dense and toxic air pollution, which has been affecting eastern Pakistan and northern India for some time, has been captured in NASA satellite imagery.
Since last month, a thick gray cloud of smog covering a vast area from Pakistan's Punjab region to India's capital, New Delhi, has begun to threaten the health of millions of people.
The dense smog, particularly in major cities like Lahore and Multan, has made streets and buildings virtually invisible.
SCHOOLS CLOSED, PUBLIC HEALTH AT RISK
Authorities in Pakistan have decided to close schools and public spaces due to the negative effects of rising air pollution on public health.
These measures are intended to protect the health of individuals, especially those with respiratory issues.
AIR POLLUTION INCREASES DURING WINTER MONTHS
Air pollution, which increases every year during the winter months in South Asia, reaches critical levels due to the burning of agricultural waste, coal-fired power plants, heavy traffic, and windless weather conditions.
Cold and dry air traps the pollution and prevents it from dispersing in the atmosphere, which leaves the local population in an even more difficult situation.
In Lahore, the air quality index has exceeded 1200 this season; this level is considered "hazardous."
PM2.5 particle levels, which are 110 times higher than the safe limit set by the World Health Organization, are among the smallest and most dangerous components of the air pollution in the region.
These particles can penetrate deep into the lungs, causing heart and lung diseases, cancer, and respiratory ailments.
Punjab health officials stated that there is a high influx of patients at hospitals and clinics due to the effects of the toxic smog. According to the Associated Press, more than 30 thousand people in the Punjab region alone have received treatment for respiratory illnesses.
This severe air pollution in Pakistan and India constitutes a major public health crisis for the millions of people living in the region.