Air Pollution Emergency: Residents Urge KP Govt to Act on Marble Factories Hazards

APP

Peshawar: Residents living along Warsak Road, besieged by dense air pollution primarily emanating from unregulated marble factories, urgently call upon the KP government to relocate these factories to Mohmand Marble City. 

These factories, operating without adequate safety measures, subject their workers to grave health risks, including the development of fatal chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

The visible haze of pollution along the route from Warsak Road to Michani Mohmand tribal district, where marble slabs are transported to these factories, underscores the severity of the issue. Many of these factories operate without proper recycling mechanisms.

Farhat Ameen, a Warsak Road resident, highlights the pressing need for government intervention, particularly from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to curb the unchecked proliferation of marble factories. 

Environmental Degradation

The uncontrolled expansion of these factories within densely populated areas of Peshawar has led to ecological degradation and widespread pollution of air, water, and land.

The liquid waste produced by these marble factories has begun to contaminate the waterways in the region, posing significant risks to aquatic life and exacerbating environmental degradation. Farhat asserts that the milky sludge discharged by these factories flows untreated into water bodies and irrigation channels.

Furthermore, the expansion of marble factories not only encroaches upon agricultural lands but also results in the unchecked pollution of remaining lands and water channels due to untreated effluents. She emphasizes the urgent need for prioritizing the relocation of these factories.

Ali Khan, a marble factory owner on Warsak Road, reveals that he established a marble and granite processing unit eight years ago at an estimated cost of Rs27 million. However, the additional expense of approximately Rs20 million required for relocating and operationalizing the unit at Mohmand Marble City exceeds his financial capacity.

Advocating for governmental support and assistance to bolster the marble and granite business, he asserts that due to security concerns, inter-provincial businessmen tend to favor factories along Warsak Road over those in Mohmand district.

Currently, more than 400 marble and granite factories operate along both sides of Warsak Road, each with the capacity to process approximately 20,000 square feet of marble per month, despite facing issues with unreliable power supply.

COPD Risk: Pollution Connection

Dr Riaz Khan, a senior chest and medical specialist at the Government Hospital Pabbi, warns about the health hazards posed by air pollution primarily attributed to marble and brick kilns.

He highlights the link between air pollution and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), a debilitating lung condition characterized by airflow restriction, persistent cough, breathing difficulties, wheezing, and fatigue.

COPD ranks as the third leading cause of death globally, claiming approximately 3.23 million lives in 2019 and around 148,512 lives in 2020. 

In Pakistan, COPD and asthma-related diseases contribute to significant mortality rates, with approximately 138.2 per 100,000 males and 41.3 per 100,000 females succumbing to these conditions. As COPD severity escalates, respiratory-related deaths increase, particularly in developing nations like Pakistan.

Kharay Bibi, a 70-year-old resident of Pabbi in Nowshera district, was admitted to Lady Reading Hospital in critical condition due to severe shortness of breath. Despite efforts to save her, she succumbed to COPD after being diagnosed with the disease along with malaria. 

Shageef Bibi, her daughter, recounted how her mother collapsed during breakfast and was diagnosed with advanced-stage COPD and malaria upon arrival at the hospital.

Despite receiving treatment in various wards, including emergency, acute medical unit (AMU), and pulmonary wards, Kharay Bibi passed away on September 6, 2023.

Expressing her grief, Shageef Bibi lamented that despite the doctors’ efforts, COPD, exacerbated by pollution, took her beloved mother’s life.

Dr Riaz emphasized that while COPD is incurable, its symptoms can be managed through measures such as avoiding smoking, minimizing exposure to air pollution, and receiving vaccinations to prevent infections.

With proper medication, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation, patients can improve their symptoms and quality of life. Early diagnosis is crucial, as it can extend a patient’s lifespan by 10 to 20 years.

Various treatments are available for COPD, including bronchodilator inhalers to open and reduce swelling in the airways, steroid pills, and antibiotics for managing flare-ups, and oxygen therapy for severe cases.

COPD and Asthma: Clarification Needed

Dr. Riaz highlighted the common misconception of linking COPD with asthma, leading to the misuse of medications that can complicate COPD treatment later on. 

He emphasized that COPD and asthma, primarily caused by toxic air, have estimated prevalences of about 2.1 percent and 4.3percent, respectively, in third-world countries like Pakistan. Dr Riaz stressed the urgent need to enhance the quality and coverage of care at public health facilities at both the tehsil and district levels to better assist patients.

He noted that nearly 90 percent of COPD-related deaths in individuals under 70 years old occur in low- and middle-income countries due to factors like unhealthy lifestyles and air pollution. While tobacco smoking is the primary cause in high-income countries, in lower-middle-income countries, it accounts for 30 to 40% of cases, with household air pollution posing a significant risk factor.

Experts emphasized the importance of addressing the overall condition of marble factories, vehicle emissions, and advocated for a ban on smoke-emitting transportation in major cities like Peshawar to mitigate ENT, chest, and COPD issues.

They also called for the relocation of brick kilns and stone-crushing marble factories on Warsak Road to Mohmand Marble City.

Furthermore, they urged the media and civil society to raise awareness about air pollution and its associated health risks. They encouraged writers, columnists, feature writers, and digital media to consistently produce content educating the public about the dangers of air pollution.