Dhaka school of Economics University of Dhaka

An assignment on Air pollution and water pollution in Bangladesh

Submitted by: Nahin Mahfuz Seam.

Class : BEcon 1st batch

Id no : 160121005

Roll no : 09

Subject : Environmental studies

Course ID : 103

Submitted to: Dr. Salma Sultan, Assistant professor, DScE

Air pollutionAir Pollution contamination of the atmosphere caused by the discharge, accidental or deliberates of a wide range of toxic substances. Often the amount of the released substance is relatively high in a certain locality, so the harmful effects are more noticeable. The major sources of air pollution are transportation engines, power and heat generation, industrial processes and the burning of solid waste. A new source of air pollution is an increasing 'hole' in the ozone layer in the atmosphere above Antarctica, coupled with growing evidence of global ozone depletion. Air pollution has also long been known to have an adverse effect on human beings, plants, livestock and aquatic ecosystem through acid rain.

Air pollution can be defined as any atmospheric condition in which substances (natural or man-made chemical compounds capable of being airborne) are present at concentrations high enough above their normal ambient level to produce a measurable effect on man, animals, vegetation, or materials. Air pollutants are hazardous to human health and at high enough concentrations can even be fatal. The most important pollutants are Carbon monoxide (CO), Sulfur dioxide (SO2), Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Ozone (O3), Hydrocarbons (HC) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM). In the late 1970s, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of USA added lead (Pb) to this list. Particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of less than or equal to 10µm (PM10) was added to the list in 1987. Air pollution can cause drowsiness, eye irritation, throat irritation, persistent cough, asthma, nose blockage, respiratory infections, bronchial infections, colds and headaches in human being. Lead in air can affect the central nervous system, cause renal damage and hypertension. CO in air reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen and exacerbates heart disorders. Dhaka, one of the mega cities of the world, witnessed a very fast growth of urban population in recent times. Air pollution in Dhaka city is reported to be serious and damaging to public health. In the winter of 1996-97, air pollution of Dhaka city became the severest when lead in the air was reported higher than in the atmosphere of any other place of the world [1]. Concern over air pollution rate of Dhaka city ultimately led to the promulgation of National Ambient Air Quality Standards in Bangladesh in 1997. A study of impact of auto-exhaust on air quality of Dhaka city has been conducted in the year 2000, it is revealed that traffic congestion, fuel quality and brick field emission are the main reasons of air pollution in Dhaka city [2]. To control air pollution level CNG at large scale has introduced in Dhaka city. Air quality of Dhaka city after large scale introduction of CNG vehicles has been studied in this investigation. As people spend most of their time indoors and the concentrations of pollutants may build up in an enclosed space, the risk to

health may be greater to exposure to air pollution indoor than outdoor. For the first time, indoor air pollution level of Dhaka city has also been assessed systematically during this study. Brick field emission level data have also presented. In this paper the results of investigation on air quality of Dhaka city have been assessed and put forward some recommendations.

Recently as in other parts of the world air pollution has received priority among environmental issues in Asia. This problem is acute in DHAKA the capital of Bangladesh and also the hub of commercial activity. The other urban areas like CHITTAGONG, KHULNA, BOGRA and RAJSHAHI have much lesser health problem related to air pollution. In urban areas sometimes the houses are built on rocks and SOILS, which radiate radioactive gas from their basement. If this gas is inhaled for a long time it may cause lung cancer. In the rural areas of Bangladesh, the air pollution problems have not yet become a point of concern. This is due to fewer motorized vehicles and industries there. However, brick kilns and cooking stoves are the principal sources of emission in rural areas. In villages’ wood, COAL, and biomass are used as sources of energy. Thus, it is likely that in those areas the principal air contaminants are particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Basically, there are two major sources of air pollution in Bangladesh industrial emissions and vehicular emissions. The industrial sources include brick kilns, fertilizer factories, sugar, paper, jute and textile mills, spinning mills, tanneries, garment, bread and biscuit factories, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, cement production and processing factories, metal workshops, wooden dust from saw mills and dusts from ploughed land, and salt particles from ocean waves near the OFFSHORE ISLANDS and coastal lands. These sources produce enormous amount of smokes, fumes, gases and dusts, which create the condition for the formation of fog and smog. Certain industries in Bangladesh, such as tanneries at Hazaribag in Dhaka City, emit hydrogen supplied, ammonia, chlorine, and some other odorous chemicals that are poisonous and cause irritation and public complaints. This may cause headache and other health problems.

With increased rate of urbanization in the country, the number of vehicles is also increasing rapidly, and contributing to more and more air pollution. The Department of Environment (DOE), and other related organizations, have identified the two-stroke engines used in auto rickshaws (baby-taxies), tempos, mini-trucks, and motorcycles as major polluters. At present, there are about 65,000 baby-taxies among them more than 296,000 motor vehicles ply in Dhaka City alone. Moreover, overloaded, poorly maintained

and very old trucks and mini-buses are also plying the city streets emitting smokes and gases. In fact about 90% of the vehicles that ply Dhaka's streets daily are faulty, and emit smoke far exceeding the prescribed limit. Diesel vehicles emit black smoke, which contain unburned fine carbon particles.

The two-stroke engines are now discouraged in Bangladesh because of their pollution hazard. In view of the serious automobile pollution faced in the metropolis, an initiative was taken with World Bank support to introduce big buses in the city and discourage the playing of small automobiles, including baby-taxis. The introduction of air-conditioned city bus service is an outcome of that initiative.

Sophisticated equipment is now being used to detect air polluters in Bangladesh. As such, four monitoring stations are set up at four divisional towns, namely, Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, and Bogra. In Dhaka the locations of vehicular emission test are at Tejgaon, Farmgate, Manik Mia Avenue, Gulshan, Lalmatia, and Agargaon. BANGLADESH UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY (BUET) has also been conducting ambient air quality surveys since 1995.

The air quality standards are different for residential, industrial, commercial, and sensitive areas. The worst affected areas in Dhaka city include: Hatkhola, Manik Mia Avenue, Tejgaon, Farmgate, Motijheel, Lalmatia, and Mohakhali. Surveys conducted between January 1990 and December 1999 showed that the concentration of suspended particles goes up to as high as 3,000 micrograms per cubic meter (Police Box, Farmgate, December 1999), although the allowable limit is 400 micrograms per cubic meter. The sulphur dioxide in the air near Farmgate was found to be 385 micrograms per cubic meter, where as the maximum permissible limit is 100 micrograms per cubic meter. Similarly, in the Tejgaon Industrial Area the maximum concentration of suspended particles was 1,849 micrograms per cubic meter (January 1997), as opposed to the allowable limit of 500 micrograms per cubic meter. Usually the maximum concentration of air pollution in Dhaka is during the dry months of December to March.

The BANGLADESH ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION (BAEC) and the Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), in collaboration with the DOE, recently assessed the concentration of LEAD in the ambient air. The DHAKA SHISHU HOSPITAL in association with the BAEC also estimated the level of lead in the blood of children of Dhaka City and the possible impact of leaded gasoline on them. The Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) is also setting up a vehicle emission monitoring station at Mirpur, Dhaka.

Prior to introduction of unleaded gasoline, BAEC reported that the air that city dwellers breathe on the roads contains lead in concentrations almost ten times above the government safety standard set by the DOE. The air of Dhaka City holds 463 nanograms per cubic meter of lead - the highest in the world. From November 96 to March 97 the lead levels in three different areas of Dhaka City were 123-252 nanograms per cubic meter at Farmgate area and 61 to 76 nanograms per cubic meter in Tejgaon Industrial area.

Air pollution data from World Health Organization PM10 158

PM2.5 90

PM10 Pollution Level: Extremely High

The lead poisoning produces neuro-developmental disorders in children. About 50 tons of lead is emitted in the Dhaka air annually and the emission reaches its highest level in the dry season from November to January. Lead poisoning has been detected recently in children at the Shishu Bikash Kendro (Child Development Centre) of Dhaka Shishu Hospital. Lead concentrations, measured around 80-micrograms/dl-to180 micrograms/dl in the tested children's blood, is 7-16 times more than the acceptable limit. The safe concentration advocated by the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention is 10 micrograms/dl. People living in urban slums have a significant rise in mean blood lead levels, compared to those living in urban middle-income or rural areas. The development of lead pollution could also affect the central nervous system, cause renal damage and hypertension. Excessive lead in the blood of children could damage-their brain and kidney. Children are three times more at risk than adults are by exposure to lead poisoning.

In Dhaka city the mean blood lead level of rickshaw pullers is 248 micrograms/dl (range 154-344 micrograms/dl), baby-taxi drivers 287 micrograms/dl, traffic police 272 micrograms/dl (range 152-32 micrograms/dl), tempo assistants 255 micrograms/dl, and petrol pump operators 249 micrograms/dl (range 207-342 micrograms/dl). The mean blood lead level among these risk groups is found to be higher than the acceptable value, with traffic police being the worst affected group. The blood lead levels usually increased with duration of exposure.

During July 1999 the Government of Bangladesh (GOB) executed the decision to provide only unleaded gasoline in the country. According to recent measurements between late

1999 and 2000 by BAEC and EASTERN REFINERY LIMITED (ERL) the gasoline dispensed at pumps in Bangladesh is now totally free of lead.

It has been found that Dhaka city has VOC beyond tolerable limits, some of which cause CANCER. Emissions from two-stroke auto-rickshaws in Dhaka were found to contain 4 to 7 times the maximum permissible level of VOC.

Dust pollution is causing many RESPIRATORY DISEASES, including ASTHMA. Recently, 200 organic compounds are detected by analysing four air samples collected from the Shewrapara area of the city. As far as the VOC is concerned the following worst affected areas are identified: Hatkhola, Manik Mian Avenue, Tejgaon, Farm Gate, Motijheel, Lalmatia, and the inter-district bus terminals. Surveys conducted between December 1996 and June 1997 showed that the concentration of suspended particles goes up to as high as 2,465' micrograms per cubic metro as against the allowable limit of 400 micrograms per cubic meter at Farm Gate. In Tejgaon Industrial Area, on the other hand, the maximum con centration of suspended particles was 630 micrograms as against the allowable limit of 500 micrograms per cubic meter.

Mine air pollution a major issue of concern in Bangladesh. Dust and mine gases create problems for coalmine. Fortunately BARAPUKURIA COAL of DINAJPUR district has insignificant gas content, therefore, in the process of mining of coal the danger of methane emission and methane gas related hazards are considered to be insignificant. As the Barapukuria coal will be mined mechanically, huge coal dusts would be generated but proper mitigation measures if taken coal dust could be controlled. Huge dusts will also be generated in the Maddhyapara HARD ROCK mine in Dinajpur district, due to frequent movements of heavy vehicles together with required loading and unloading operations. The gases formed by the combustion of coal, fuel and lubricants in the mine both at the surface and underground pollute the ambient air. Dusts generated from coal and hard rocks especially during cutting, blasting, crashing and transportation in the mines are generally the cause of concern for the miners and for the surrounding localities.

Government decisions recently the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) has taken important decisions, which are as follows (i) the minimum standard of lubricating oil for two- stroke engine should be APITC or JASOEB and (ii) marketing of straight mineral oil should stop immediately.

In 1985-86 the BANGLADESH PETROLEUM CORPORATION started a project to use COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) in vehicles instead of gasoline. The primary

objective was to reduce vehicular emissions, as combustion of CNG produces less pollution than gasoline. The World Bank donated Taka 225 million to initiate the project. So far data on the number of vehicles converted to CNG from 1985 to 1997 are as follows: 1985-86 converted vehicles 2; 1988-89 converted vehicles 19; 1989-90 converted vehicles 9; 1990-91 converted vehicles 6; 1991-92 converted vehicles 10; 1992-93 converted vehicles 16; 1993-94 converted vehicles 3; 1995-96 converted vehicles 13 and 1996-97 converted vehicles 86. Private sector participation in using CNG for taxicabs is significant. At the beginning of 2002 the Government has started promotional campaign and appropriate push to the owners of auto rickshaws to use CNG in order to reduce vehicular emissions.

Pollution policy the first regulation related to ENVIRONMENT in Bangladesh was the Factory Act of 1965, which was followed by the earliest recorded environmental protection act, known as the 'Water Pollution Control Ordinance, 1970'. However, these ordinances do not include air pollution problems. Gradually these ordinances were modified and the Environmental Pollution Control Ordinance (EPC), 1977, was promulgated. It dealt with pollution of air, SURFACE WATER and GROUNDWATER, and soil by discharge of liquid, gaseous, solid, radioactive, or other substances. Although the order passed under the EPC 1977 was legally in place, implementation of environmental laws never took place.

Following rapid industrialization the environmental scenario in Bangladesh changed dramatically. The Ministry of Environment and Forest and the Department of Environment were created in 1989 and the Environment Policy of 1992 was introduced. Further, the Environmental Conservation Act, 1995, and the Environment Conservation Rules, 1997, were approved by the Bangladesh National Assembly to restrict and mitigate ever-growing environmental problems in the country.

Bibliography United Nations Environment Programme, State of the Environment: Bangladesh, United Nations Environment Programme, 2001.

Water pollution

Water Pollution Water is considered polluted when it is altered from the natural state in its physical condition, and chemical and microbiological composition, so that it becomes unsuitable or less suitable for any safe and beneficial consumption. The term contamination is used synonymously with pollution. The signs of water pollution are obvious: bad taste; offensive odours from lakes, rivers and sea beaches; unchecked growth of aquatic weeds in water bodies; decrease in number of aquatic animals in surface water bodies; oil and grease floating on water surfaces; colouration of water; etc. Besides these obvious signs, there are other kinds of pollution, which are not so visible.

Water pollution

Sources of pollution Factories, power plants and sewage treatment plants are considered point sources of water pollution, because they emit pollutants at discrete locations, usually through a pipe that leads to a lake or STREAM. Nonpoint sources of water pollution are scattered or diffused. Cropland, FOREST S , urban and suburban lands, roadways, and parking lots are nonpoint sources of a variety of substances including dust, sediment, PESTICIDES, asbestos, FERTILIZER, heavy metals, salts, oil, grease, litter, and even air pollutants washed down from the cloud by rain.

Water pollution can also be categorized into natural and anthropogenic sources. Natural sources are those which take place without human influence. Anthropogenic pollution are those which are induced by human beings. Natural pollution can also be accentuated by human activities.

Pollution takes place in all the three main sources of water, ie rain water, SURFACE WATER and GROUNDWATER. Surface water is more susceptible than groundwater, which is naturally protected from surface activities.

Rainwater pollution Acid rain damages forests and may cause significant decrease in productivity. Numerous authors have also raised concern for crop damage. Acid rain is particularly damaging to buds; therefore, acids falling on plants in springtime may impair growth. Acidification of SOIL may also impair soil bacteria that play an important role in nutrient cycling and nitrogen fixation. Acid rain is also capable of corroding manmade structures. Examples of such corrosion are: the Statue of Liberty, the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa and Egypt's temple at Karnack. Acid rain may also damage house paint and etch the surfaces of automobiles. There is no record of acid rain in Bangladesh. However, due to extensive AIR POLLUTION in Dhaka city, it is very likely that rain water in Dhaka would be more acidic than rain water in rural areas.

Surface water pollution Surface water occurs in OCEANS, rivers, lakes, ponds and floodplains. It has been the source of water supply since the dawn of civilization. But intense human activities have been polluting these readily available sources. Surface water used to be the primary source of water supply in Bangladesh, but it is no longer the case. Surface water in Bangladesh is extensively polluted by sources such as industrial and urban wastes, agrochemicals and sewerage wastes and seawater intrusion. Surface water bodies are extensively used for disposal of untreated industrial wastes and this is one of the main sources of pollution. The BURIGANGA is a typical example of serious surface water contamination. Apart from industrial sources, surface water in the country is also extensively contaminated by human faces as SANITATION in general is poor. Agrochemicals are extensively used in the country causing pollution of surface water. Due to withdrawal of water from the Ganges, seawater intrudes a long way inside the coastline which causes river water pollution by salinity. There are also other minor sources that contaminate surface water extensively.

Groundwater pollution Although groundwater is not directly exposed to surface polluting activities, numerous natural and anthropogenic activities cause groundwater pollution. A number of physical, chemical and biochemical (and microbiological) processes cause alteration of groundwater properties either by addition of new elements/ions/compounds or by increasing the existing concentrations. Before the discovery of arsenic contamination in Bangladesh, groundwater used to be considered a safer source of drinking water. Arsenic contamination of groundwater in Bangladesh is now considered the world's largest case of

water pollution. Groundwater in Bangladesh is also polluted by a number of anthropogenic and natural sources. The most widespread anthropogenic sources are the infiltration of industrial and urban wastes disposed on the ground or in surface water bodies. Also intrusion or infiltration of saline water contaminates groundwater. Extensive use of agrochemicals can lead to groundwater pollution. Leaking sewers/septic tanks/pit latrines also cause groundwater pollution.

Effects of water pollution: 1. The dissolved oxygen level of many of the rivers’ water has reached at lethal level.2. Due to over spilling of pollutants during the rainy season, the agricultural lands are contaminated that they have lost their crop growing capacity and hence remain unused all the year round.3. Sometimes the pollutants enter food chain eventually killing birds, fish, and mammals.4. The scientists in a recent research on the Karnaphuli found traces of radioactivity ‘very close to risk level’ on the soil. If radioactivity of the river soil goes up it will hamper the natural breeding of fish as well as growth of fishes. If the people eat the affected fish it may spread to their body.According to the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation on 2000 (UNSCER), normal level of radiation hazard due to radioactivity is 0.5. The scientists in their research got 0.6507 for external radiation hazard and 0.82 for internal radiation hazard where the risk level is 1.5. Pollution is so acute that hardly any hydro-organisms can tolerate it and eventually, fish of many species are found floating dead in the river water. These dead fishes gradually get rotten and highly add to the further pollution of the river water.6. Due to rotting jute in the river (Chitra) water the water quality of the river is in an inferior position as aquatic creatures are dying for lack of oxygen.7. The river pollution has also hit the local fishermen hard. Life has become difficult for them as they lost their income source.8. This also results in the alteration of geomorphic features which can then change in the geometry and sedimentary characteristics of river channels, flood plains and deltas.9. Industrial pollutants such as lead, cadmium, iron, copper and organic wastes from leaking sewage systems can accumulate in rivers. Referred as bioaccumulation, this process can ruthlessly affect water quality and species survival. More importantly, bioaccumulation of metals in fish, crabs and other edible aquatic species, may cause health problems to enter the food chain. Also, this can destroy the water aeration system, the self-purifying process of rivers.

10. Eutrophication, a process of absorbing excessive nutrients (especially N and P) beyond their buffering capacity of water bodies leads to the loss of species diversity through increased species mortality, changes in species collection and loss of aquatic flora and fauna diversity.

Pollution in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Air Pollution 85.00Very High

Drinking Water Pollution and Inaccessibility 66.67High

Dissatisfaction with Garbage Disposal 82.50Very High

Dirty and Untidy 83.33Very High

Noise and Light Pollution 75.83High

Water Pollution 81.90Very High

Dissatisfaction to Spend Time in the City 83.87Very High

Dissatisfaction with Green and Parks in the City 85.34Very High

Purity and Cleanliness in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Air quality 15.00Very Low

Drinking Water Quality and Accessibility 33.33Low

Garbage Disposal Satisfaction 17.50Very Low

Clean and Tidy 16.67Very Low

Quiet and No Problem with Night Lights 24.17Low

Water Quality 18.10Very Low

Comfortable to Spend Time in the City 16.13Very Low

Quality of Green and Parks 14.66Very Low

Some steps to minimize pollution in last few years:There is always a try to minimize pollution. Tongi Industrial Area have unanimously decided for establishing and operating a central ETP with their concerted effort with a view to tackling the Turag River pollution (Prothom-Alo, August 31, 2010). Some projects are initiated to lessen this huge pollution by the government though these all are not effective always.

The government has taken a decision to shift the tannery industry from Hazaribagh to Saver. The water board designed sluice gates on the Jamuna near the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge from where the waters would be diverted to the Buriganga.

To save the river from the encroachers and pollution as well as their existence, the sampan majhis organized a three-day sampan khela (boat race) and Chantgaiya (Chittagong) cultural fair in the river Karnaphuli. Sampan Majhi Kalyan Samity Federation (SMKSF) in association with Chattagram Anchalik Sanskriti Academy (CASA) organized the events titled “We are boatmen of the river Karnaphuli and we have pledged to save the river”.

References:

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Air_Pollution

http://www.bangladeshenvironment.com/index.php/polution-s/air-polution/291-air-pollution-in-dhaka-city

http://www.buet.ac.bd/me/icme/icme2009/Proceedings/PDF/ICME09-RT-19.pdf

http://www.numbeo.com/pollution/city_result.jsp?country=Bangladesh&city=Dhaka

http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Water_Pollution

http://fairbd.net/water-pollution-of-most-of-the-water-sources-in-bangladesh/