Assessing the efficiency of Smog Cleaning Tower in Reducing Ambient Particulate Matter at Mehmood Booti, Lahore, Punjab

Abstract

Punjab Government is committed to take initiatives to control emerging problem of air pollution at Lahore, Punjab. Scientists, engineers and other stakeholders working on air pollution reduction technologies are encouraged to participate in pollution reduction. One of such research study was planned at Mehmood Booti to evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of locally manufactured Smog Tower by Rapidiv Company, claiming the range of smog tower to capture and remove air particulate matter, especially PM 2.5 from 1km surrounded air of smog tower. For study purpose, EPA Installed four Air Quality Monitoring Stations at various distance to monitor ambient air PM2.5 concentration to report AQI.  Data from six air quality monitoring stations were analyzed before and after tower installation. The analysis revealed a strong correlation between reduced PM_2.5 concentrations and increased wind speeds. Rainfall also played a significant role in improving air quality.

These findings suggest that meteorological factors, particularly wind speed, rainfall, and humidity, have a more significant impact on air quality than the Smog Cleaning Tower (SCT). The observed improvement in air quality can largely be attributed to these natural atmospheric processes.

Furthermore, the PM_2.5 monitoring conducted during the tower's operation indicated a substantial amount of particulate matter in the area, estimated at 373 Kg within a 1 km radius and 0.5 km height. However, the tower's PM_2.5 recovery rate was negligible, raising concerns about the efficiency of its electrostatic dust collection system.