Abstract
ABSTRACT Samples of the fine and coarse fractions of airborne particulate matter (PM) were collected using a ‘Gent’ stacked filter unit in a semi-residential area of Dhaka, Bangladesh from December 1996 through September 2015. The site is located at the Atomic Energy Centre, Dhaka University Campus that is a relatively low traffic area. Many policies have been implemented during this period to clean the air of Dhaka. Among them, bans on leaded-gasoline and two-stroke engines were implemented, and a policy regarding green technology for brick burning is in progress. To observe the effects of the policy implementations, analyses were performed on this long-term (December 1996 to September 2015) data set of PM10, PM2.5, black carbon (BC), and lead (Pb). Annual average concentrations of PM10, PM2.5, BC, and Pb were computed. These long-term data show that the air quality of Dhaka has been stable over the past decade even though economic activity and the number of sources including passenger cars and brick kilns, are increasing.
Highlights
More than one-third of Bangladesh’s population live in large urban areas
To observe the effects of the policy implementations, analyses were performed on this long-term (December 1996 to September 2015) data set of PM10, PM2.5, black carbon (BC), and lead (Pb)
particulate matter (PM) Concentrations Table 1 shows the arithmetic and geometric means of the mass concentrations with the 95% confidence intervals for PM2.5 and PM10 in samples collected at the semi-residential area (SR) site
Summary
More than one-third of Bangladesh’s population live in large urban areas. By 2050, at least half of the population will be urbanized. The highest concentration of population growth has been in and around Dhaka (latitude 23.77°N, longitude 90.38°E), the capital of Bangladesh. There has been an eightfold increase in population since 1970, and it stands at more than 12 million, making it the eighth largest city in the world. It is likely to become the third largest city by 2020 when its population reaches approximately 20 million. In South Asia, airborne particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) is a major concern because of its high ambient concentrations and documented impact on morbidity and premature mortality (Kojima et al, 2000)
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