Abstract
Studies on the atmospheric pollution caused due to vehicular exhaust at the busy cross roads in the Peshawar city were carried out. The major gaseous air pollutants i.e. carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and hydrocarbon levels during 0700 to 1900 hrs were studied at 10 different locations of Peshawar city with maximum traffic density. Nine out of ten locations were having average carbon monoxide levels above the permissible National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The carbon monoxide level ranged between 9 and 24 ppm, whereas its permissible level is 09 ppm. Similarly nitrogen oxides levels were found higher than the NAAQS of 0.15 ppm at all the sites. The nitrogen oxides level ranged between 1.7 and 3.5 ppm. With the exception of General Bus Stand, there is no indication of sulphur dioxide in rest of the locations studied. The concentration of hydrocarbons was found to be negligible in the studies undertaken. On the basis of these studies, it has been concluded that the higher levels of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides in the ambient air cause deleterious impacts on the human health. Recommendations and suggestions to minimize the harmful effects of the gaseous pollutants due to vehicular exhaust are also described.