Intro
Air pollution is defined as the contamination of an indoor or outdoor environment by any chemical,
physical, or biological substance that changes the natural properties of the atmosphere. It is one of the
most alarming issues among the many man-made calamities that affect the world today. Indoor and
outdoor air pollution are the two categories of air pollution. According to World Health Organization
(WHO) standards Around the world, over 92% of people are exposed to air pollution. Air pollution has
negative consequences for Dhaka's ecology, climate, and general quality of life, in addition to its
negative impacts on health. Dhaka currently ranks highly among the main cities in the world for poor
urban air quality. As per the World Air Quality Report (2021), Dhaka has the second-worst air quality.
Dhaka has one of the highest annual outdoor concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which
contributes to around 14,000 fatalities annually.
Air Pollutants
The primary airborne pollutants are:
• Particulate matter levels in Dhaka are consistently high. The most common types of particulate
matter in Dhaka are PM2.5 and PM10. These comes from various sources such as burning
biomass, industrial processes, construction dust, and vehicle emissions.
• Secondary Pollutant. Ground-level ozone is created when precursor pollutants react chemically
in sunlight. Elevated ozone levels are common in Dhaka, especially on hot, sunny days.
• Nitrogen dioxide is a significant air pollutant mostly caused by industrial operations and vehicle
emissions. It is linked to respiratory problems, airway inflammation, respiratory infections.
• The gas carbon monoxide has no taste, smell, or colour. In addition to being very harmful to
humans and other oxygen-breathing creatures, it is also combustible.
• Sulfur dioxide is extremely uncomfortable. Some people are very sensitive to the effects of
sulfur dioxide, particularly youngsters, the elderly, and people with asthma.
Air quality
The Air Quality Index (AQI) is used to evaluate the regular air quality. It indicates the level of pollution,
cleanliness of the air and any major health issues. Here are the scores of Air quality index and if it falls
between these it is regarded as.. If we see the air quality index in Dhaka overtime, it can be seen that
The average AQI for Dhaka was 221 in February 2020 and 281 in January 2023. In January 2023, Dhaka's
air pollution increased by almost 27% over the previous year. And if we see the aqi score of the last four
years together then it can be seen that all scores falls between the 201-300 which is under very
unhealthy category. According to world bank research 28% of the pollution is local, primarily from India.
The remaining 60% of the pollution comes from nearby districts and divisions.
The Brick Kiln Sector
One of the most talked-about issues that contributes to Dhaka's air pollution is the brick field. Around
Dhaka, there are more than 1500 brickfields. Tons of carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and other
dangerous materials, including furans and dioxin, are created during the burning of more than 2.3
million tons of coal. The three sub-districts of Savar (23%), Narayanganj (27%) and Gazipur (30%)
account for over 80% of the air pollution from brick kilns that affects the Dhaka City Area. An average of
30 cubic meter of ambient PM2.5 in the Dhaka City Area is caused by brick kilns.
Vehicles Emissions
Vehicles are considered to be the primary cause of air pollution. Three-wheelers and heavy-duty diesel
cars are the two-vehicle groups that contribute most significantly to total particulate emissions. These
vehicles use two-stroke engines. According to research, a baby taxi emits 30 times more air pollution
than a regular automobile. Vehicles utilize petrol and diesel as fuel, creating black smoke that contains
unburned particulate carbon matter. Regions with a higher concentration of industrial and commercial
establishments have greater contamination levels than residential regions.
Industrial Emissions
Another significant issue that is contributing to Dhaka's air pollution is the expanding industrial sector.
The Dhaka textile and dyeing industries discharge various pollutants, including particulate matter and
volatile organic compounds into the air. Air pollution in Dhaka has long been a problem due to
tanneries, especially in the Hazaribagh neighbourhood. Toxic fumes and particle matter are released
throughout the leather production process due to the use of several chemicals and poor waste
management procedures.
Traffic Congestion
Dhaka's air pollution is getting worse due to traffic congestion. Pollutant emissions rise with high vehicle
density and slow traffic, adversely affecting public health and air quality. The World Bank and the
government of Bangladesh claim that one of the primary reasons for Dhaka's air pollution is traffic
congestion. According to the Ministry of Environment and Forests, the average speed of automobiles in
Dhaka is 7 km/h, which is extremely slow and leads to increased fuel consumption and air pollution.
These areas in Dhaka face the most severe impact of air pollution.
Effects
The respiratory system is the primary target of air pollution, which also causes headaches, irritability,
exhaustion, asthma, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancer. Air pollution increases the risk
of respiratory tract diseases, acute obstructive lung disorders, including bronchitis, and cardiovascular
illness. It also ruins ecosystems and crops, ruins buildings, contaminates water supplies with lead and
other particles and reduces sight. Such an impact on the ecosystem has a severe impact on human
health. Excessive emissions from factories and other industries have a negative influence on the
environment and are harmful to health.
Solutions
There are two particular goals pertaining to the environment and air among the seventeen Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). The two SDGs that need to be addressed to actualize the significance of air
control management are SDG 3 and SDG 11, which include a specific mention of air pollution. In dhaka,
the government has established an air quality monitoring network made up of multiple monitoring
stations that continuously measure different types of pollutants. This network offers vital information
for identifying the origins of pollution, evaluating the quality of the air, and influencing policy choices.
One solution to reduce vehicular air pollution is to introduce electric vehicles (EVs) in the city. To
incentivize low-income consumers, the government may announce financial incentives for purchasing
electric cars. The necessary number of charging stations and their connection to the supply line must be
changed for easier charging facilities.
public buses are the most widely used mode of transportation. Black smoke is usually released by public
buses, and their noise level prevents people from using them. The government can increase awareness
by planning seminars, focus groups, commercials, and other events. The government needs to install
enough electric buses in the city at this point to accommodate public transportation. In order to achieve
this, electric buses must be imported from nations with a track record of producing them.
Since winter is the dry season, Dhaka's air generally becomes extremely filthy from December to March.
As a result, the amount of air pollution changes with the seasons. Thus, the air control strategy must be
quite different from the other government's overall management policies. As the plan for controlling air
quality develops, it is imperative to identify the priority pollutants as soon as possible. Finding the
contaminants and health risks associated with a certain area's poor air quality can aid in developing a
remedy for that area.
Within the brick kilns, very outdated machinery is used to create bricks. Effective methods of producing
bricks that release fewer pollutants can be developed since brick kilns are a significant source of air
pollution. Businesses should be encouraged to use emission-reducing technologies and environmentally
friendly practices. The creation and maintenance of green spaces within cities can serve as organic air
filters, capturing pollutants and enhancing the general quality of the air. Efficient waste management
techniques should be put into practice to promote recycling and prevent the burning of rubbish.
The UN Development Program (UNDP) tackled the problem of air pollution in Dhaka city in 2023 and
started the "Breathe Well Dhaka" campaign to increase public awareness of clean air. Their campaign's
main objective was to draw attention to the causes of air pollution in Dhaka and increase public
awareness of it. The campaign has emphasized the benefits of walking short distances instead of using a
car and home gardening in lowering air pollution. UNDP intends to carry out the campaign's second
phase, which will involve participation from all corners of the nation. The plan is to engage young people
who are planning to attend college and seek creative solutions to air pollution.
Conclusion
Since the government has started various major construction projects in and around the city without
any pollution management, Dhaka's air pollution has become a serious public health issue. The rising
levels of air pollution are hampering the nation's progress. The tension between air pollution and public
health is strong enough to provide a significant push toward a solution. It is important to conduct
research on the factors affecting air quality and how they affect human health. Including the mass
media campaign and social awareness in this procedure is also necessary. It is also necessary to stop the
development of new industries in the city. . Regular evaluation of air quality parameters and the
discovery of their effects on a sustainable environment will provide appropriate recommendations for
increasing urbanization to sustainable development.
