AIR POLLUTION EPISODE

DHAKA-AIR POLLUTION EPISODE (1997)

ARSENIC POISONING IN BANGLADESH/INDIA

Submitted by:-

Sadia Rahat

Table of contents

No# CONTENTS Pg No#

1 Dhaka Air Pollution EpisodeIntroduction

Air Air Pollution Episode

3

2 History Population of Dhaka Report of Air Monitoring Station Out Burst of Air Born Diseases

3

3 Root Causes and Effects Conc. of Air Pollutants in Dhaka Conc. of Lead Conc. of PM Conc. of Oxides of Carbon Conc. of Ozone Conc. of sulpher Conc. of VOCs

4

4 Sources 6

5 Conclusion 6

6 Solution 7

7 References 7

Dhaka air pollution episode:-

Introduction:-

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Air:- Air is the most integral part of the physical environment, as itSustains life of both plant and animals. Animals take the oxygen from the air and giving out the carbon dioxide similarly plants take the carbon dioxide while giving out the oxygen during photosynthesis. Both land and aquatic ecosystems are naturally interrelated through direct participation of air, an invisible ocean. Degradation of the environmental quality specially due to the anthropogenic activities has become popular all over the world . * Arial view of Dhaka city

Air Pollution Episode:-A period of abnormally high concentration of air pollutants, often due to low winds and temperature inversion that can cause illness and death.

Environmental impacts of air pollution include damage to buildings and structures, agricultural crops,vegetation and forests and reduced visibility. Air quality in Dhaka is a serious issue in viewof the magnitude of its health and economic impacts. Although some measures have alreadybeen taken to improve the air quality in Dhaka but still it is not sufficient.

History:-

Population of Dhaka:-

Dhaka Statistical Metropolitan Area has now extended to more than double the area of what exist in 1981. It is thought that by the end of century it will obtain 11.2 million population that will rank seventeenth mega city of the world. Unplanned growth of Dhaka city has already created adverse ecological effects. According to Asian Development Report 1998, Dhaka is the most polluted cities of the world. Ambient air pollution of Dhaka city has made a world record, abominably, as a number one pollutant breaking earlier record of Mexico City.

Report of air monitoring stations:- Although there are many quantitative air monitoring stations in Dhaka but a few scatters studies show the alarming situation. The report describes that Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in the air is between 1000 and 2000 microgram, 4 to 5 hundred per cent higher than acceptable level. The size, shape, and density of an airborne particle determine how long a particle will remain in the atmosphere, whether or not it will be inhaled, and where it may be deposited in the respiratory tract. The solubility of a gas determines (in part) whether it will cause upper airway irritation or pulmonary edema. The particulate material can also absorb gases (including sulphur dioxide and formaldehyde) on its surface. The rate of Brick producing plants increased in Dhaka and the brick producers use the “used oil” for the combustion in the kilns. The "used oil" is one of the most hazardous wastes that cost millions of dollars for disposal in the industrial countries. That hazardous oil imported from the industrial countries. The old- oils extracted from transformer oils, hydraulic fluids, automobiles and the like are sold locally named "Maita Tel" or "soil-oil" and used in households as insecticide for protecting wood or metal from rust.

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Outburst of airborne disease:-

Air pollution episode in Dhaka causes a number of diseases ranging from skin diseases to cancer. Numerous ailments are being seen as a result of present environmental disorder such as:

Eye irritant Severe headache Amonexia Disruption of blood circulation Respiratory problem Fatal diseases that may lead to death

*Dhaka, the most polluted city of world

Root causes and Effects:-

Conc. Air pollutants in Dhaka:-Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission reports that:

The highest acceptable level of Sulphur dioxide (S02) is 60 microgram per cubic meter of air. But it has been recorded at 300 to 500 microgram in Dhaka.

Automobiles in Dhaka emit 100 kg lead 3.5 ton suspended particulate matter 1.5 ton Sulphur Dioxide 14 ton hydrocarbon 60 ton Carbon Monoxide

Conc. Lead in ambient air of Dhaka:-Concentration of lead in ambient air of Dhaka city has been marked as world's record of 463 nanogram per cubic meter. Motor vehicles are the main source of lead in the atmosphere. Children are particularly susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of lead as the high concentration of lead causes the brain damage and deformation of bones.

Conc. of Particulate Matter:-The average suspended particle leads to particulate matter (PM)

rises as high as 227 mg per cubic meter, whereas according to

WHO yearly maximum average value should range between 60-90 mg per cubic meter. o Inhalable Particulate Matter (IPM):

Particles that are size less than 15 µm can enter

the tracheobronchiole and gas exchange regions of the *Average conc. is about 7 µg/m3

lungs, and thus more likely than Total Suspended and the maxi conc. is 23 µg/m3

Particulate to produce pollution-related health effects. o Fine Particulate Matter(FPM):

The particles of <2.5 micrometer in diameter are called the fine particulate matter and their high concentration causes asthma and other lung diseases.

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Oxides of Carbon in ambient air of Dhaka:-Carbon monoxide is produced during incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide is present in

10 mg/m3 to 40 mg/m

3 in ambient air of Dhaka. Carbon monoxide is basically hinders the oxygen transportation from blood into tissues.

Conc. of Ozone in Dhaka:-Ozone is generally short lived at ground level. But once formed, the reservoir can replenish Ozone at ground level for 2 or 3 days. The toxic effects of Ozone in the lower regions of the respiratory tract increase with increased minute respiratory volume. Animal and human test *Average conc. of CO is 0.04ppm but exposed to Ozone shows pulmonary injury and in Dhaka it’s maxi conc. is 0.2ppm pulmonary function decreases ranging from

12.6 to 20.7 per cent. There are number of diseases cause by ozone such as:

Respiratory Asthma Eye irritation Heart attack

Conc. of Sulpher Dioxide in Dhaka:- Concentration of sulpher dioxide in Dhaka is about 80

ug/m3 in residential areas and 100 ug/m

3 commercial areas.

Majority of the sulpher dioxide that is about 472.9 ug/m3

exhaust from the commercial areas and the rest that is

about 63.5 ug/m3 releases from the residential areas. *Average conc. of O3 is 3ppb

There are many diseases cause by sulpher dioxide but maxi conc. is 9ppb such as:

Respiratory diseases Chest pain Premature mortality

Conc. of Volatile Organic Compounds:-Significant quantities of VOCs are emitted into the atmosphere through the use of liquid fuels and through the transport, storage, transfer of organic solvents. Some of the VOCs are describes below such as:

Dioxins Vinyl chloride Methylene chloride Trichloroethylene Perchloroethylene Benzene Toluene Xylene

A significant number of VOCs are associated with chronic health problems in the workplace, including various forms of cancer.

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Sources:-

Acidification of soils and water has created diverse damage to ecological system. Acidification causes:

Less organic content in soil Increase solubility of hazardous metals like aluminum Threatening condition of aquatic organisms Essential metals and nutrients are leached out to ground water Loss of vegetation

Lead added gasoline cars with the name of reconditioned cars were sold out in Dhaka market, almost 200,000 such harmful vehicles played in Dhaka causing the threatening condition for inhabitants.

Three wheelers or two-stroke engine (auto-rickshaws) driven vehicles emit poisonous gases as these engine have very low efficiency to burn hydrocarbon. Such vehicle causes the tumors and respiratory diseases like lung cancer or

More than 80 per cent of the vehicles of the city were totally unfit for moving according to department of Environment in 1988.

Brick producing plants in Dhaka produce the worst hazardous emissions of this planet as they use trees, coal of very low quality ( more than 10 per cent sulphur), used tyres (contain PCB ) and used oil to obtain optimal temperature for burning bricks. *Open dumping of solid waste

Brick producing plants causes the destruction of valuable

topsoil and palm and bamboo trees of the country.

Conclusion:-

It is conclude that ambient air of Dhaka has become a deadly pollutant and it can be declared as one of the worst polluted cities of the world. Dhaka with 200,000 vehicles has been marked as world record of 463 nanogram (one part of a billion) leaded vehicles.

The Harmful destruction of the greenery is the major attribute of tragic level of pollution in the city.

Vanishing of green lands and the expansion of cities or unplanned concrete structures causes the threatening condition for life in Dhaka.

Brick fields cause the worst condition for ambient life in Dhaka. Two stroke vehicles and use of re-used oil in motor vehicles and brick fields are the major cause

of SOX and NOX in the city.

Solution:-

The Government of Bangladesh forms the following policies, acts and guidelines that directly or indirectly address environmental damaging industrial operation.

Environment Conservation Act, 1995 Environment Court Act, 2000

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Environment Conservation Rules 1997 EIA guideline for industries, 1997 Factories Act, 1939

Immediate actions are needed to be taken for the betterment of the air quality in Dhaka such as: Prevention of emission at source Use of compressed natural gas (CNG) instead of petrol or diesel Improve mass transport service Ban two-stroke engine Use of natural gas for burning in the Brick-fields Improve planting activates in the city

*Slum areas of Dhaka *Worst polluted lakes *Population explosion in Dhaka

References:- http://www.caslab.com/Air_Pollution_Episode_Meaning/ http://www.sos-arsenic.net/english/environment/dhaka-air.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrhasan/5640403396/ www.rrcap.unep.org/reports/soe/dhaka-soe-05/3-1dhaka-air.pdf http://factspy.net/top-10-most-polluted-places-around-the-world/ http://nagoya-u.academia.edu/MuntaseerBillah/Papers/

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