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Health Impact Assessment for the Construction of Ring Rad Southern Loop in Lahore, Pakistan

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Author Affiliations

  • 1Lahore College for Women University, Lahore, PAKISTAN

Int. Res. J. Environment Sci., Volume 3, Issue (7), Pages 45-52, July,22 (2014)

Abstract

Health Impact Assessment of general public is carried for the construction of southern loop of ring Road in Lahore, Pakistan. The methodologies adopted for conducting the assessment were survey, baseline information, interviews using questionnaires, evaluation in the Environmental Impact Matrix and measurements of various health parameter, drinking water quality assessment and air quality assessment. To carry out the assessment 300 people from the project area were randomly selected and were interviewed. Water quality monitoring and air quality monitoring was conducted by collecting water and air samples. The parameters were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the drinking water and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) for the ambient air quality. Results of health status assessment showed that common diseases in the area were hepatitis, skin allergy, stomach problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, fever, flu and respiratory problems. The results of ground water quality showed that total Coli forms, fecal coli forms and fecal entero cocci were found to be high as compared to WHO Guidelines. Chemical parameters were well within the permissible limits except Total Dissolve Solids (TDS). Analysis of wastewater showed that samples were having a very high COD content of 263 mg/l in comparison to the prescribed limits of 150 mg/l, while all other parameters are well within the permissible limits of NEQS. In case of ambient air quality the results showed that PM10 was found to be 426 g/m3 which was substantially high as compared with USEPA standard value of 150g/m3. However, the CO, NO2 and SO2 were well within limit. Prediction and evaluation of impacts of the project revealed that construction of road will pose some temporary health issues during the construction phase of the project implementation but those problems were of mild nature and temporary, and ended with the completion of construction of the project.

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