Volume: 3 Issue 2 [February 2020]

Article:Assessment of the Status of Urban Air Pollution and its Impact on Human Health in the City of Chittagong

Author: M. Jamaluddin Ahmed, Ahmed Jubaer, Md. Khorshed Ali, Md. Aminul Ahsan

Volume: 3, Issue 2; February-2020 ;

DOI: Nor. Am. Aca. Res. 2020 : 3(2) : 398-417 : https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3678993

Abstract: Air pollution has significant effects on exacerbation of asthma, allergy and other respiratory diseases. There is a great need to implement control measures in most of the megacities of the world to improve air quality and hence protect public health. Like many other megacities in the world the ambient air quality of Chittagong is also being deteriorated day by day. Main sources of air pollution in this city are arising out of the emission from the motorvehicles, industries, galvanisms, etc. Considering the severity of the problem, the current study plan was undertaken to measure the gaseous pollutants level in the air of different urban locations of Chittagong, the second largest city of Bangladesh. Atmospheric pollutants like gaseous (SO2, NO2), particulate matters (SPM) were determined in Chittagong city. Eight different sampling stations, Muradpur Circle, WASA Circle, G.E.C Circle, Proborthak Circle, Chawk-bazaar Circle, Olongkar Circle, New Market Circle and Oxygen Circle were selected for sample collection and observations during the atmospheric year 2013 -2014. The objective of the study was to determine the concentrations of gaseous pollutants (SOx, NOx) and particulate matters (SPM, PM2.5 and PM10) to find out the variation of air pollutants in different locations of Chittagong city. The concentration of gaseous pollutants was found more at highly traffic areas. The highest concentration value of SO2, NO2and SPM was observed in highly traffic area at Muradpur Circle, Olongkar Circle & New Market Circle, respectively. The lowest concentration value was found in less traffic area at WASA Circle & Proborthak Circle. The average results of gaseous pollutants, particulate matters and trace metals have been compared to national and international standards. The value of SPM in air of Chittagong city is higher than that of TLV value recommended by WHO and DOE. The elemental concentrations (e.g. Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Hg, Ni and Zn) of ambient air that collected at different locations in Chittagong city is exceeded the TLV. A strategic air quality management plan has been proposed.

Comments