Assignment

Course: PBH101

Section 6

Prepared for Prepared by

Dr. Shaikh Salam Akhrar Faiyaz Nahian

Department of Public Health 2111250030 (SL. 26)

North South University North South University

PART A

Reasons behind Dhaka City's air being polluted for years.

For years, Dhaka's citizens have struggled with extreme air pollution, and the city is regularly
ranked among the most polluted in the world. This situation is the result of several intricate
interactions:

 Uncontrolled Vehicle Emissions: Due to the rapidly growing population of Dhaka, a

large number of vehicles are old, badly maintained, and devoid of emission control
technology. These cars emit nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants, which is a major cause
of respiratory issues.
 Brick Kilns: Choking the City: Bangladesh's construction industry relies heavily on the
production of bricks, but these kilns frequently use cheap, dirty fuels like coal or wood.
Massive amounts of particulate matter (PM2.5), which are tiny particles that lodge deep
in the lungs and seriously harm health, are released during the burning process. The
concentration of PM2.5 in Dhaka is currently 8.9 times the WHO annual air quality
guideline value (Dhaka Air Quality Index (AQI) and Bangladesh Air Pollution | IQAIR,
n.d.).

Pavel et al. (2021) found out the concentration of particulate matters over the years, and
the trend shows that it has been ever increasing and hasn't been healthy in a long time.
Industrial Emissions: Factories, tanneries, and other industrial facilities are major
contributors to air pollution. Their emissions add to the mix. A variety of hazardous
chemicals, particulate matter, and other materials are released by these facilities.
According to research conducted by Pavel et al. (2021), we can see in the chart below
that most of the pollutants are higher than the guideline values. They also concluded that
these pollutants have positive correlations with increasing temperature, relative humidity,
etc.
 Waste Burning: In Dhaka, burning waste in the open, including trash, is a regular
occurrence. This causes dust to be raised and releases dangerous pollutants into the
atmosphere, worsening the already poor quality of the air. Ahmed Deepto (2021) found,
Waste burning had been happening for decades on a regular basis in Dhaka city according
to the dwellers and it directly contributes to the poor quality of the air and intense
temperature.

 Dust Takes Center Stage: There is a lot of dust produced by Dhaka's busy streets and
ongoing construction projects. When this dust combines with other pollutants, respiratory
issues become worse
 Limited Awareness and Action: Historically, air pollution has not been heavily regulated
or the subject of public awareness campaigns. The inability to concentrate has hindered
attempts to deal with the problem successfully.
 Waste Burning: In Dhaka, burning waste in the open, including trash, is a regular
occurrence. This causes dust to be raised and releases dangerous pollutants into the
atmosphere, worsening the already poor quality of the air. Ahmed Deepto (2021) found,
Waste burning had been happening for decades on a regular basis in Dhaka
city according to the dwellers and it directly contributes to the poor quality of the air and
intense temperature.

 Dust Takes Center Stage: There is a lot of dust produced by Dhaka's busy streets and
ongoing construction projects. When this dust combines with other pollutants, respiratory
issues become worse.
 Limited Awareness and Action: Historically, air pollution has not been heavily
regulated or the subject of public awareness campaigns. The inability to concentrate has
hindered attempts to deal with the problem successfully.
PART B

The impacts of polluted air of Dhaka City on Human health, Environment & Economy

The dirty air of Dhaka has a high cost for its citizens. The effects have an impact on the
economy, the environment, and human health. Below is a summary of these effects:

1. The Human Health Crisis:

 Air pollution: One of the main causes of respiratory disorders such as asthma, chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and respiratory infections is elevated PM2.5
levels. These illnesses have the potential to drastically lower quality of life and cause
early mortality. According to Dibya et al. (2023), Households, businesses, and
automobiles emit a complex mixture of air pollutants, many of which are harmful to
people's respiratory systems. Fine PM is the most detrimental of these pollutants to
human health. PM10, the finest of PM comes from burning fossil fuels, which can come
from moving sources like cars or stationary sources like factories, homes, and power
plants. It can also come from burning organic matter. These contaminants have the
potential to seriously harm someone's lungs. Particles' chemical makeup influences how
they impair respiratory health by affecting the lungs. Particles made of the same material
may have different effects based on their size and shape.
 Cardiovascular Problems: There is a connection between air pollution exposure and a
higher risk of heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. Pollutants can
cause inflammation all over the body and damage blood vessels.
 Beyond the Lungs: New research indicates that diabetes, depression, and cognitive
decline may all be influenced by air pollution. "Emerging studies suggest that exposure to
air pollution may be associated with cognitive impairment, with reported effects ranging
from impaired neurocognitive development in infancy and childhood to higher rates of
cognitive decline and dementia in later life" (Chandra et al., 2022).
2. Damage to the Environment:

 Decreased Visibility: Excessive particulate matter concentrations can drastically reduce

visibility, which can affect everything from driving safety to the beauty of the
surroundings. The famous skyline of Dhaka frequently vanishes behind a cloud of
pollution.
 Impact on Ecosystems: Air pollutants can harm plant growth, disrupt ecosystems, and
contribute to acid rain, damaging buildings and infrastructure.

3. Economic Burden

 Healthcare Costs: People and the healthcare system bear a heavy financial burden as a
result of the rise in respiratory and cardiovascular issues brought on by air
pollution. "Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen and sulfur resulting from air pollution is a
major stressor to natural ecosystems, often leading to acidification and eutrophication
of both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems." (Ecosystems and Air Quality | US EPA, 2024)

 Reduced Productivity: Air pollution can cause workers to be more absent from work and
produce less, which can have an effect on businesses and the economy as a whole.
According to studies, Bangladesh's annual air pollution costs are in the billions. Reports
from the World Bank contain information on the financial effects of air pollution in
Dhaka. In 2019, environmental problems cost Bangladesh's GDP 17.6% of what it was,
and air pollution comes from homes and outdoor spaces, causing almost half of all
premature deaths, which in 2019 alone accounted for 8.32% of GDP (World Bank Group,
2024).

 Tourism Takes a Hit: Dhaka's air pollution may discourage travelers, which could harm
the city's travel sector and economic expansion.
Dhaka can become a healthier, livelier city with a stronger economy by tackling air pollution.

References:

Ahmed Deepto. (2021, March 29). Pollution increases with burning garbage. Prothomalo.

https://en.prothomalo.com/environment/pollution-increases-with-burning-garbage

Chandra, M., Bhushan, C., Kumari, N., Sandhu, V. K., Chandra, K., Krishna, M., Kota, S. H.,

Anand, K. S., & Oudin, A. (2022). Air Pollution and Cognitive Impairment across the

Life Course in Humans: A Systematic Review with Specific Focus on Income Level of

Study Area. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public

Health/International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(3), 1405.

https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031405

Dhaka Air Quality Index (AQI) and Bangladesh Air Pollution | IQAIR. (n.d.).

https://www.iqair.com/bangladesh/dhaka

Dibya, T. B., Proma, A. Y., & Dewan, S. M. R. (2023). Poor Respiratory Health is a

Consequence of Dhaka’s Polluted Air: A Bangladeshi Perspective. Environmental Health

Insights., 17. https://doi.org/10.1177/11786302231206126

Ecosystems and Air Quality | US EPA. (2024, January 22). US EPA. https://www.epa.gov/eco-

research/ecosystems-and-air-quality#:~:text=Atmospheric%20deposition%20of

%20nitrogen%20and,both%20terrestrial%20and%20aquatic%20ecosystems.

Pavel, R. S., Zaman, S., Jeba, F., Islam, M. S., & Salam, A. (2021). Long-Term (2003–2019) Air

quality, climate variables, and human Health consequences in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Frontiers in Sustainable Cities, 3. https://doi.org/10.3389/frsc.2021.681759

World Bank Group. (2024, March 28). Addressing Environmental Pollution is Critical for

Bangladesh’s Growth and Development. World Bank.

https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2024/03/28/addressing-environmental-

pollution-is-critical-for-bangladesh-s-growth-and-development#:~:text=These

%20environmental%20issues%20cost%20the,percent%20of%20GDP%20in%202019.