Impact of Kiln Operation on Smog Duration (Production): A Case Study of Traditional Manual Red Brick Kilns of North Sindh Pakistan

Abstract

This research paper’s main objective is to determine if smog duration (thus production) increases or decreases (in vicinity) with kiln operation . Smog is air pollution. It is social cost and negative externality. Smog appears usually at the time of 3am to 5am and lasts usually up to 2pm to 4 pm in target area of North Sindh. Its duration is between 9 hours to 13 hours. It starts in the month of November and lasts up to February. Smog starts in Punjab and later appears in North Sindh. Sample of 90 kilns is used but only 54 of these operate in winter. Purposive sampling is used. In the regression model ‘total smog hours’ is the Y variable and x variables are winter work day length, brick dry time, quantity of water used, fuel type, quantity of fuel burnt and total winter production. Winter day length ranges between 8 to 10 hours. On average it is 08 hours. Usually 600 liters of water are required for 1000 brick making. Mainly five types of fuel is used at kilns i.e. tootar, furt, bakas, local firewood and dung. It usually takes longer for bricks in winter to dry because of small days with less intensity of sun. It means more water vapors in air. Many model variables are insignificant. Only variables having any significant impact on the smog production are winter day length (at brick kilns) and brick dry time (in winter). Y Intercept tells that if all variables are zero there will be decrease of 227 smog hours near that kiln. Error term is ±75.2 hours. It is recommended for the authorities that Smog is somehow caused by kilns. It is question of further cautious research to implement rules.