LAHORE: Pakistan is facing a number of environment problems such as degradation of natural resources and industrial and vehicular pollution which in monetary terms costs the country about $ 4.3 billion annually and accounts for 4.3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
This was disclosed in a report of Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) on hazards of environmental pollution.
Specific examples in this regard are: air,land and water degradation, drought and desertification, waterlogging, forest depletion, loss of biodiversity, vehicular and industrial pollution and climate change, the report says.
According to the report, air pollution appears to be a contributing factor to bronchitis, obstruvtice pulmonary disease and lung cancer.
Chemical compounds that contribute to environmental pollutants include polychlorinated biphenyl, dioxins, asbestos and heavy metals.
It has been observed that increase in sulphur dioxide affects human health causing irritation of eyes, nose, throat, damage to lungs when inhaled, acute and chronic asthma, bronchitis and emphysema and lung cancer.
It also creates acid rain which can erode buildings, kill aquatic organisms, destroy crop lands and damage natural habitats, the report maintained.
Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011
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