Spatial analysis of sulfur dioxide (SO ) concentration in ...

Lasbela University Journal of Science and Technology (2013) Vol-2 ISSN 2306-8256

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Spatial analysis of sulfur dioxide (SO2) concentration in Karachi

Megapolis, Pakistan

Syed Nawaz-ul-Huda1, Farkhunda Burke

1, Erma Anwar

2,Imtiaz Ahmed

3, Muhammad

Miandad1and Muhammad Azam

2

1Department of Geography, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

2Department of Geography, Federal Urdu University of Arts, Sciences and Technology,

Gulshan-e-Iqbal Campus, Karachi, Pakistan. 3Faculty of Water Resources Management, Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and

Marine Sciences, Uthal, Balochistan, Pakistan.

ABSTRACT

Rapid growth of motor vehicles in cities of Pakistan has brought in its wake a range of serious

socio-economic, environmental, health and welfare impacts. Of these impacts, those resulting

from urban air pollution, due to emissions from motor vehicles among other sources, have been

the focus of considerable public concern and policy attention. Vehicular smoke, burning of

garbage and low greenery have a predominant role in Karachi’s air pollution which subsequently

are causes of serious environmental degradation and lung diseases among the population. The

present study focuses on high traffic volume locations of Karachi for the study of SO2

concentration based on Minimum Curvature Interpolation technique. The study also focuses on

24 hours ambient data in selected places and identification of zones of SO2 concentration in

Karachi megapolis.

Keywords: Karachi, Pakistan, SO2, Minimum Curvature Interpolation, Burns Road

_____________________________________________________________________________ Correspondence: Syed Nawaz-ul-Huda Address: Department of Geography, University of Karachi, Karachi, Pakistan.

Email: [email protected] Phone: +92-333-3177399 Received : 02 Feb, 2013 Revised : 25 Jun, 2013 Accepted: 26 Jun, 2013 Copyright: ©2013 Huda et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative

Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any

medium, provided the original author and source are credited Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. ______________________________________________________________________________

INTRODUCTION

Clean air is an essential component of life

but air pollution plays a prominent role in its

spoilage and urban atmosphere. It is affected

by industrial development and high volume

of growing traffic. Air pollution is a severe

problem in most cities of the developing

world as compared to cities of the developed

world (Sivaramasundaram and pg. 1

mailto:[email protected]


Online available at www.luawms.edu.pk pg. 2

Muthusubramanian, 2010; Viana et al, 2006;

Miranda, 2012 & Bell, 2007). The greatest

human and economic impacts of air

pollution are increased incidence of illness

and premature death which result from

human exposure to elevated levels of

harmful pollutants. The most common air

pollutants are sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of

nitrogen (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO),

particulate matter (PM) and volatile organic

compounds (VOCs) in urban areas, which

come from a wide variety of sources. The

single most important source generally

being fossil fuels (Gorham 2002 & Tiwari et

al, 2010).

Rapid growth in the number of motor

vehicles in cities of Pakistan has brought in

its wake a range of serious socio-economic,

environmental, health and welfare impacts.

Of these impacts, those resulting from urban

air pollution, due to emissions from motor

vehicles among other sources, have been the

focus of considerable public concern and

policy attention (Ilyas, 2007; Aziz and

Bajwa,2007; Aziz and Bajwa,2008; Ghouri

et al, 2007; Alam, et al., 2011;Majid, et al.,

2012b & Ali and Athar, 2010).

Sulfur oxides are one of the most abundant

pollutants (Dwivedi and Shashi, 2012).

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is one of the major

oxides of sulfur. It is a heavy, pungent,

colorless gas. It forms from the combination

of sulfur from emissions of coal burning

industries and atmospheric oxygen. Sulfur

dioxide is highly reactive and hence is not

cumulative. The maximum residence time is

probably 10 days. Much of the compound

combines with atmospheric water to form

sulfuric acid. Atmospheric sulfuric acid

causes the leaves of plants to turn yellow. It

dissolves limestone and marble, and is

highly corrosive of iron and steel.

SO2 reduces atmospheric visibility and

blocks out sunlight (Yang, et al, 2009). It is

also responsible for decreased wind speed

and temperature in winter due to its

increased concentration (Luvsan, et al.,

2012) thus being contributory factor of

serious repository ailments in urban

environments especially among children

(Smargiassi, et al., 2009; Dockery et al.,

1996). It is a major irritant to the eyes and

respiratory system and is lethal at a few

parts per million. SO2, which is emitted in

direct proportion to the amount of sulfur in

fuel, causes changes in lung function in

persons with asthma and exacerbates

respiratory symptoms in sensitive

individuals (Gasana, 2012; Thriel, et al.

2010 & Koenig, 1999).

Karachi is the capital city of the province of

Sindh, and the largest and thickly populated

(16 millions) city of Pakistan. Located

strategically between 24.750 to 25.656 N

and 66.653 to 67.574 E on the coast of the

Arabian Sea, north-west of the Indus River

delta, it covers an area of 3,600 km² (Fig.1).

High volume of ground traffic in the urban

areas, mostly heavily populated cities acts as

one of the major factors in climate change

and cities including Karachi have observed

an increasing trend in temperature (Alam

and Rabbani 2007; Edmilson et al. 2007; Liu

et al, 2007; Yin et al. 2007; Chung et al.

2004 & Sajjad et al, 2009). Vehicular

smoke, burning of garbage and low greenery

(Azam, et al., 2012) are significant

contributors to the air pollution of Karachi

and one of the prime causes of serious

environmental degradation and henceforth

lung diseases among the population. SO2

concentration has become one of the

essential factors (Naddafiet al.2012) in

accelerating weathering of monuments,

buildings, and other stone and metal

structures (Plate.1).

The current study focuses on the hypothesis

that high traffic volume in Karachi is a

major cause of high SO2 pollution in various

parts of the city. In this scenario, the

objectives of this study are:



Analysis of 24 hours SO2 data from

selected sample sites of the city.

Identification ofSO2 concentration zones

in Karachi Megapolis.

Demarcation of probable expansion of

SO2 through Minimum Curvature

method.

S h a

h r

a h

– e

– P a

k I

s t a

n

N o r t h e r n

M a n g h o p i r R

d

Landhi

Bin Qasim

Gulshan

Iqbal

New

Karachi

Gulistan

Jauhar

Malir

Cantonment

Quaidabad

S e a V i e w

Rashid M

inhas Rd

Gulshan-e-

Maymar

Industrial Area Rd

Hub R

iver Rd (R

CD

)

PAF

Masroor

Korangi

Creek

– F

a i s

a l

Karachi Port

0 5

kilometers

Mauripur

M a

l i

r

R i

v e

r

M a l i r R i v e r

Arabian

Sea

Arabian Sea

R

i

v e

rL

y

a r

i

S u p e r H i g h w a y

N a t i o n a l H i g h w a y

Defence

Housing

Authority

B y

p a

s s

Korangi Rd

N o

r t h

e r

n

Korangi

Manora

B y

p a s s

1

25

6

26

2028

2

22

3

23

4

57

148

9

1024

27

12 15

13 16

1719 18

21

1. SUPARCO 2. Karimabad 3. Liaquatabad 10 4. Tin Hatti 5. Guru Mandir 6. Old Numaish 7. Garden Road 8. Tibet Center 9.

Maulvi Musafir Khana Road 10. Merewether Tower 11. Shaheen Complex 12. Burns Road 13. Preedy Street 14. Empress

Market 15. Metropole Hotel 16. FTC 17. Teen Talwar 18. Sunset Boulevard & Gizri Road 19. Gizri Road & Punjab Colony

20. Drigh Road 21. KPT 22. North Nazimabad 23. Nazimabad 24. Mauripur Road 25. Sohrab Goth 26. Gulshan Chowrangi

27. Gulbai 28. Maritime Museum

11

Fig 1: Study Area and Sample Sites

SO2 Affected Part Renovated portion

Plate 1: SO2 affected limestone buildings in the study area.



Due to reported news regarding rapid

growth of chronic diseases and speedy

weathering of limestone constructed

buildings and monuments; the present study

has focused only on SO2 analysis.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

For the present study 28 locations of varied

local activities including traffic density

based on previous study of SUPARCO have

been selected. Air quality samples were

collected during the period of March 2007 to

October 2007 with the help of Sulfur

Dioxide Monitor Z-1300XP equipment.

Various techniques for the scholarly study of

air pollutants have been applied

(Hadjimitsis, 2009; Wald, et al, 2009).

In present study, surface gridding analysis

has been designed, based on Minimum

Curvature method through Mapinfo

Professional 11/ Encom Discover 12. This

technique is widely used for analysis in the

Earth Sciences (Huda et al., 2011; Briggs,

1974; Kurtzman and Kadmon 1999).

Selection of this method is based on its

smoothness of possible surface within the

area of grid analysis. For the purposes of

spatial analysis, this method is fast, effective

and suitable over a wide range of smoothly

varying regional data.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Spatial analysis, one of the basic tenets of

Geography, is a convenient method of

providing an insight into the measurement of

atmospheric pollution of any area. Under

this technique, ambient expansion can be

observed through visual contacts (Fig.2 to

25). Highest concentration of SO2 has been

observed at various places, among which

Guru Mandir, Mauripur, Metropole and

Sohrab Goth have emerged as the most

prominent locations (Fig.2). These areas are

the high traffic volume belts in Karachi

megapolis. Mauripur, located near Karachi

port is the biggest Trailer Truck stand where

hundreds of Trailers are parked and loaded

round the clock. Sohrab Goth, which is one

of the intercity bus terminuses, is another

busiest traffic zone in the study area located

at the urban periphery. Guru Mandir, which

is a junction of heavy and light traffic, is

located in the center of the city. The Hotel

Metropole junction is another crossroad of

light traffic especially for VIP movement in

the megapolis.

Fig.3 shows almost the same result as that of

the previous hour, however, SO2

concentration movement is diverted to other

directions. The area of concentration has

spread out markedly towards the eastern

part. KPT Interchange, gateway of Landhi-

Korangi Industrial area witnesses heavy

traffic after the mid night since the city

traffic law allows heavy traffic only after

that time. Figs.4 and 5 depict similar

concentration zones. In Figs.6 and 7, Preedy

Street and Drigh Road have emerged as new

zones of SO2 concentration. Fig. 8 depicts an

increase in traffic flow in the city and by

7am the coverage of low SO2 concentration

zones shows a marked decrease (Fig.9).

High pollution zones can be observed from

8am to 11am in the southern part of the city

where business offices, trade centers and

other centers of occupational activities are

concentrated, which lead to an increase in

traffic volume (Figs.10 to 13). Figs 14 and

15 reveal that FTC area appears as being a

high SO2 concentration zone, while

concentration in this area further increases at

14:00 and 15:00 hours (Figs. 16 to 17).

In the study area during the late afternoon

hours, except for some locations, high level

of SO2 can be observed in the northern,

eastern, southeastern and western parts. At

16:00 and 17:00 hours, the central part

shows the same pattern of SO2 concentration

(Figs. 18 &19). The level of pollution

concentration shows an increase that extends



from Empress Market (14) to FTC (16)

areas at this time. Fig. 20 shows the level of

spread of this area further towards

Merewether Tower (10), engulfing Gizri

Road and Punjab Colony areas as well. By

19:00 hours, depicted in Fig. 21, the SO2

zone moves from FTC towards KPT. At this

time Gulshan Chowrangi also emerges as

another high level SO2 zone. By 20:00 hours

(Fig. 22) SO2 high concentration zone

further spreads from Gulshan Chowrangi to

Sohrab Goth by 21:00 hours towards Drigh

Road area, while increase in concentration at

FTC and its neighboring locations are also

recorded (Fig. 23). In the study area, traffic

volume decreases during the night hours

especially between 20:00 and 23:00 hours.

Except for some critical locations, this

pattern is visible in most of the worst traffic

congested areas where level of SO2 falls

during the nighttime. Daily analysis reveals

that SUPARCO and Maritime Museum

locations are zones of least concentration of

SO2, while high concentration zones have

been recorded at Mauripur Road, Guru

Mandir, Sohrab Goth, Merewether Tower,

Empress Market, Drigh Road, FTC, Gulshan

Chowrangi and KPT areas (Figs. 24 &

25).Hourly variation in concentration can be

observed at SUPARCO location from 13:00

to 20:00 hours when volume of vehicle

movement is considerably higher than

during the nighttime to early morning hours

(Fig.26). Maritime museum is another

location of low concentration of SO2, where

hourly observations reveal negligible

variations because the area lies in the

jurisdiction of cantonment administration

and generally public vehicles do not halt

here for a long time; most of them flowing

in a stream (Fig. 27). Preedy Street reveals

marked variation in terms of SO2

concentration round the clock. Being the

busiest trade center of the city, the volume

of traffic is quite high. The building

structures are multistoried, mostly of stone.

Low concentration of SO2 has been recorded

during the late night to early morning hours

(Fig. 28). Tin Hatti has recorded very little

difference round the clock, with consistently

high readings except for a few hours during

late night. The area is mainly residential,

consisting of single story houses. Buses and

cars in thousands ply through this area (Fig.

29).

Concentration of SO2 at Teen Talwar area is

highly varied. Peak hours are 9am to 18:00

hours but from 19:00 to 21:00 hours the

level shows a decrease and retains high

concentration from 22:00 to 00:00 hours.

This area is a high class residential area of

the megapolis, yet the peaks of SO2 during

late night hours are much higher as

compared to that of working hours (Fig. 30).

The peak hours of SO2 concentration at

Gulshan Chowrangi area is between 18:00 to

00:00 hours (Fig. 31) because of heavy

traffic due to the presence of marriage halls.

Social functions in the megapolis are

arranged mainly during the nighttime, after

working hour’s business activities in that

area then for extend even till late hours i.e.,

22:00 hours. At Maulvi Musafir Khana SO2

concentration can be observed at a low level

during midnight to early morning (Fig. 32).

Empress Market is a purely trading area

where high level concentration of SO2 has

been recorded during 17:00 to 23:00 hours

during which worst traffic congestion is a

common sight (Fig. 33). Ghizri Road and

Punjab Colony’s location portray almost

same picture as that of Empress Market (Fig.

34). High level concentration hours at Tibet

Center location are 18:00 to 00:00 hours

(Fig. 35). Old Nomaish is another location

where concentration level increases

gradually from 12:00 to 20:00 hours and

then rapidly between 21:00 to 00:00 hours

(Fig. 36). SO2 concentration reveals

remarkable variation at Merewether Tower

with reference to 24 hours data. Peak hours

can be in the study area during the late



afternoon hours. Except for some locations,

high level of SO2 can be observed between

13:00 and 14:00 hours and between 18:00

and 20:00 hours, the peak being recorded at

19:00 hours. Subsequently it drops between

21:00 and 23:00 hours (Fig. 37). Gulbai

peak hours started from 11am and gradually

increased till 17:00 hours while the peak has

been recorded at 18:00 hours. Decreasing

trend is visible from 19:00 hours till 8:00 am

(Fig. 38).

Shaheen Complex shows great variation

between morning and night hours in terms

of SO2 concentration. Lowest volume has

been recorded at 6am, which subsequently

shows gradual increase, dropping one again

at 13:00 hours. Peak hours are 20:00 to

21:00 hours and decreasing trend

commences from 21:00 hours, while

concentration reveals sinking trend till early

morning (Fig. 39). Garden area is a highly

congested area with reference to traffic

volume, and SO2 concentration level

increases between 20:00 to 00:00 hours.

14:00 hour records peak SO2 concentration

probably because of traffic rush due to

plying of school vans, which plays a

significant role in traffic congestion (Fig.

40). In Burns road area, level of

concentration trend has been observed to be

a little different from other locations because

high SO2 concentration has been recorded

even during the fore noon and afternoon

times (Fig. 41). Boulevard and Gizri area

depicts very interesting variation regarding

SO2 concentration where decreasing trends

start from midnight to early morning.

Subsequently, increasing trend commences

from 7:00 to 14:00 hours. Another decreased

trend can be observed from 15:00 to 17:00

hours, while a repeated increase from 20:00

to 00:00 hours is visible. This increased

phenomenon is a real picture of traffic

trends of this location (Fig. 42).

SO2concentration is constant but at a lower

level at Karimabad. Increased peaks can be

observed between 12:00 and 14:00 hours

and between 17:00 to 22:00 hours (Fig.

43).Hourly variation in concentration can be

observed at SUPARCO location from 13:00

to 20:00 hours when volume of vehicle

movement is considerably higher than

during the nighttime to early morning hours

(Fig.26). Maritime museum is another

location of low concentration of SO2, where

hourly observations reveal negligible

variations because the area lies in the

jurisdiction of cantonment administration

and generally public vehicles do not halt

here for a long time; most of them flowing

in a stream (Fig. 27). Preedy Street reveals

marked variation in terms of SO2

concentration round the clock. Being the

busiest trade center of the city, the volume

of traffic is quite high. The building

structures are multistoried, mostly of stone.

Low concentration of SO2 has been recorded

during the late night to early morning hours

(Fig. 28). Tin Hatti has recorded very little

difference round the clock, with consistently

high readings except for a few hours during

late night. The area is mainly residential,

consisting of single story houses. Buses and

cars in thousands ply through this area (Fig.

29).

Concentration of SO2 at Teen Talwar area is

highly varied. Peak hours are 9am to 18:00

hours but from 19:00 to 21:00 hours the

level shows a decrease and retains high

concentration from 22:00 to 00:00 hours.

This area is a high class residential area of

the megapolis, yet the peaks of SO2 during

late night hours are much higher as

compared to that of working hours (Fig.

30).The peak hours of SO2 concentration at

Gulshan Chowrangi area is between 18:00 to

00:00 hours (Fig. 31) because of heavy

traffic due to the presence of marriage halls.



NNN

Fig.2, 00:00 hours Fig.3, 1:00AM

Fig.4, 02:00 hours Fig.5, 03:00 hours



1. SUPARCO 2. Karimabad 3. Liaquatabad 10 4. Tin Hatti 5. Guru Mandir 6. Old Numaish 7. Garden Road 8.

Tibet Center 9. Maulvi Musafir Khana Road 10. Merewether Tower 11. Shaheen Complex 12. Burns Road 13.

Preedy Street 14. Empress Market 15. Metropole Hotel 16. FTC 17. Teen Talwar 18. Sunset Boulevard & Gizri

Road 19. Gizri Road & Punjab Colony 20. Drigh Road 21. KPT 22. North Nazimabad 23. Nazimabad 24. Mauripur

Road 25. Sohrab Goth 26. Gulshan Chowrangi 27. Gulbai 28. Maritime Museum

1

26

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23

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138

211819

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129

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Sulphur Dioxide Concentration at different hours of the day-Karachi

Social functions in the megapolis are

arranged mainly during the nighttime, after

working hour’s business activities in that

areas then for extend even till late hours i.e.,

22:00 hours. At Maulvi Musafir Khana SO2

concentration can be observed at a low level

during midnight to early morning (Fig. 32).



Empress Market is a purely trading area

where high level concentration of SO2 has

been recorded during 17:00 to 23:00 hours

during which worst traffic congestion is a

common sight (Fig. 33). Ghizri Road and

Punjab Colony’s location portray almost

same picture as that of Empress Market (Fig.

34). High level concentration hours at Tibet

Center location are 18:00 to 00:00 hours

(Fig. 35). Old Nomaish is another location

where concentration level increases

gradually from 12:00 to 20:00 hours and

then rapidly between 21:00 to 00:00 hours

(Fig. 36). SO2 concentration reveals

remarkable variation at Merewether Tower

with reference to 24 hours data. Peak hours

can be in the study area during the late

afternoon hours. Except for some locations,

high level of SO2 can be observed between

13:00 and 14:00 hours and between 18:00

and 20:00 hours, the peak being recorded at

19:00 hours. Subsequently it drops between

21:00 and 23:00 hours (Fig. 37). Gulbai

peak hours started from 11am and gradually

increased till 17:00 hours while the peak has

been recorded at 18:00 hours. Decreasing

trend is visible from 19:00 hours till 8:00 am

(Fig. 38).

Shaheen Complex shows great variation

between morning and night hours in terms

of SO2 concentration. Lowest volume has

been recorded at 6am, which subsequently

shows gradual increase, dropping one again

at 13:00 hours. Peak hours are 20:00 to

21:00 hours and decreasing trend

commences from 21:00 hours, while

concentration reveals sinking trend till early

morning (Fig. 39). Garden area is a highly

congested area with reference to traffic

volume, and SO2 concentration level

increases between 20:00 to 00:00 hours.

14:00 hour records peak SO2 concentration

probably because of traffic rush due to

plying of school vans, which plays a

significant role in traffic congestion (Fig.

40). In Burns road area, level of

concentration trend has been observed to be

a little different from other locations because

high SO2 concentration has been recorded

even during the fore noon and afternoon

times (Fig. 41). Boulevard and Gizri area

depicts very interesting variation regarding

SO2 concentration where decreasing trends

start from midnight to early morning.

Subsequently, increasing trend commences

from 7:00 to 14:00 hours. Another decreased

trend can be observed from 15:00 to 17:00

hours, while a repeated increase from 20:00

to 00:00 hours is visible. This increased

phenomenon is a real picture of traffic

trends of this location (Fig. 42). SO2

concentration is constant but at a lower level

at Karimabad. Increased peaks can be

observed between 12:00 and 14:00 hours

and between 17:00 to 22:00 hours (Fig.

43).North Nazimabad shows smooth traffic

flow between 1am to 10am. The SO2 level

increases at 19:00 hours and subsequently

decreases between19:00 hours till midnight

(Fig. 44). KPT Interchange is another

location of excessive traffic in the

megapolis. Throughout the day, SO2

concentration level at this location can be

observed as being exceedingly high. KPT

being the gateway to the highly populated

areas of Landhi and Korangi, including

Landhi-Korangi Industrial Zone, is the

junction of both light and heavy vehicular

traffic (Fig. 45).







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ppb ppb

ppb ppb

ppb ppb

ppb ppb




Road 19. Gizri Road & Punjab Colony 20. Drigh Road 21. KPT 22. North Nazimabad 23. Nazimabad 24.

Mauripur Road 25. Sohrab Goth 26. Gulshan Chowrangi 27. Gulbai 28. Maritime Museum


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25

2028

22

2

3

23

4

5

6

14

7

138

211819

17

16

1511

129

10

24

27

1

26

25

2028

22

2

3

23

4

5

6

14

7

138

211819

17

16

1511

129

10

24

27

1

26

25

2028

22

2

3

23

4

5

6

14

7

138

211819

17

16

1511

129

10

24

27

1

26

25

2028

22

2

3

23

4

5

6

14

7

138

211819

17

16

1511

129

10

24

27

ppb ppb

ppb ppb

ppb ppb

ppb ppb




Road 19. Gizri Road & Punjab Colony 20. Drigh Road 21. KPT 22. North Nazimabad 23. Nazimabad 24. Mauripur

Road 25. Sohrab Goth 26. Gulshan Chowrangi 27. Gulbai 28. Maritime Museum



Fig. 27, Maritime Museum Fig. 28, Preedy Street Fig. 29 , Tin Hatti

1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

2324

0

10

15

5

1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

5

10

15

20

Peak and Slack Levels of SO2 Round the Clock at different Samples Sites - Karachi

Fig. 26 , SUPARCO

4

1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

232412

8

0

ppb 1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

1 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

40

Fig. 31, Gulshan Chowrangi

0

10

20

301

23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24 1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

40

Fig. 33, Empress MarketFig. 32, M Musafir Khana

12

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

Fig. 30, Teen Talwar

Fig. 43, Karimabad Fig. 42,Boulevard & Gizri Fig. 44, North Nazimabad Fig. 45, KPT

0

5

10

15

20

251 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

401 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

401 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

301 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

Fig. 41, Burns Road

0

10

20

30

401 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

5

10

15

20

251 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

Fig. 40, Garden RoadFig.39, Shaheen Complex

0

10

20

30

401 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

2324

0

10

20

30

401 2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

Fig.38, Gulbai

.

Fig. 35, Tibat Center ColonyFig. 34, Ghizri Rd &Punjab Colony Fig. 37, Merewether Tower

1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30 1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

1516

17

18

19

20

21

22

2324

0

10

20

30

40

Fig. 36, Nomaish

1 23

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

2324

0

10

20

30

401

23

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11121314

1516

17

18

19

20

21

22

2324

0

5

10

15

20

25

pg. 11


Fig.51, Metropole Hotel Fig.53, Guru Mandir

Fig. 47, Drigh Road Fig. 49, Nazimabad

0

10

20

30

401

23

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

1213

1415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

401 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

401 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

5

10

15

20

25

301 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

Fig. 46, FTC Fig. 48, Liaquatabad 10

0

10

20

301 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

301 2

34

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

401

23

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

0

10

20

30

401

23

4

5

6

7

8

9

1011

12131415

16

17

18

19

20

21

2223

24

Fig. 50, Sohrab Goth Fig. 52, Mauripur Road

ppb

FTC shows high SO2 concentration

variations round the clock. During midnight

to early morning the level is considerably

decreased, while concentration increasing

trend can be observed between 7:00 and

13:00 hours. Peak hours are 13:00 and 19:00

hours till 20:00 hours, which is in

accordance the with traffic flow on this road

(Fig. 46). Sohrab Goth depicts more or less

constant values between 15 and 17ppb

during03:00 to 10:00 hours and highest peak

at noon from 11:00 hours and then gradually

increases to a peak of 27ppb around 12

noon. During the night hours especially at

21:00 hours, highest concentration level of

the day i.e. approximately 29 ppb has been

recorded (Fig. 50). Metropole Hotel, where

most of the traffic consists of new and old

cars, have recorded high level of

concentration during the working hours i.e.,

09:00 till 20:00 hours. Lowered SO2

concentration has been recorded between

early morning 03:00 and 07:00 hours (Fig.

51). Mauripur Road showed a marked drop

in concentration level of SO2 during late

night hours i.e., 00:00 hours and afternoon

time i.e.,16:00 to19:00 hours (Fig. 52).

Observations of SO2 concentration at Guru

Mandir round the clock, showed a notable

variation. Peak readings have been recorded

at 03:00, 12:00,16:00, 18:00 and 21:00

hours around 30ppb and highest at 21:00

hours, more than 30ppb (Fig.53).

According to WHO (2006) guidelines

regarding air quality on the basis of 24

hours mean data, except for SUPARCO, all

locations in the study area record high

concentration of SO2 (Fig. 54). Burns Road

has recorded highest concentration due to

high volume of traffic and congestion of

surrounding buildings. The area is also

known as Food Street, where hundreds of

people come for lunch and dinner. During

11:00 to 00:00 hours Burns Road is one of

the busiest locations in terms of people’s

activities in the study area. Guru Mandir,

Mauripur and FTC are areas with second

highest SO2 concentration, where traffic

keeps flowing round the clock. pg. 12


Study Area 24 hours mean

Gu

ru M

an

dir

SU

PA

RC

O

Mari

tim

e M

use

um

Pre

ed

y S

treet

Tin

Hatt

i

Teen

Talw

ar

Gu

lsh

an

Ch

ow

ran

gi

Mu

safi

r K

han

a R

oad

Em

pre

ss M

ark

et

Giz

ri R

oad

Tib

et

Cen

ter

Old

Nu

mais

h

Mere

weth

er

To

wer

Gu

lbai

Sh

ah

een

Co

mp

lex

Gard

en

Ro

ad

Bu

rns

Ro

ad

Su

nse

t B

ou

lev

ard

Kari

mab

ad

No

rth

Nazim

ab

ad

KP

T

FT

C

Dri

gh

Ro

ad

Lia

qu

ata

bad

10

Nazim

ab

ad

So

hra

b G

oth

Metr

op

ole

Ho

tel

Mau

rip

ur

Ro

ad

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80(u

g/m

3)

SO

2C

on

cen

trati

on

WHO 24 hours mean

Fig 54: SO2 concentration in Study Area and WHO 24 hours mean

CONCLUSION

Karachi megapolis, aspiring to become a

World Class City, can least afford a polluted

environment. Institutions, both in the public

as well as private sectors, must be revamped

with resources and skills necessary to

control vehicular emissions. With reference

to third world countries, in view of financial

constraints, such measures must be cost

effective in order to ensure success. This

may be possible by extending attractive

incentives to both individual and firms, and

by promoting and adopting advance and

cleaner technologies and fuels. This will go

a long way in achieving a millennium goal,

i.e. improving environmental quality, an

inherent part of quality of life.

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