LAHORE: The air quality of Lahore will worsen as the week progresses which is on unhealthy levels of the AQI reported by the IQAIr.

On Wednesday, the air quality levels in Lahore reached 241 (very unhealthy), while past readings this week were recorded as 256 on Monday and 234 on Tuesday.

Smog levels may increase to higher levels by Friday, with a current change in wind patterns.

A westerly wave hit the country with wind currents coming from north and the west, but there may be very little wind in coming days which means that the pollution will be home grown and will hover above the city levels.

In a recent report by Lancet Planet 2021, the findings added to epidemiological evidence of the association between pregnancy loss and PM2.5. The report says that bad air quality contributes to a considerable fraction of total pregnancy loss in South Asia, and that controlling PM2.5 pollution would promote maternal health in South Asia. For the study, 4,228 (12·4%) mothers were from Pakistan who had had one loss and one or more livebirths.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2021