Air Pollution Pollution of the atmosphere naturally or by harmful and toxic substances caused by human activities. The harmful effects of air pollution can be easily identified as the amount of harmful substances released in the air in one area is higher than in other places. The main sources of air pollution are car emissions, smoke from electricity and heat generating equipment, industrial and solid waste incineration.Another cause of air pollution is growing cracks in the ozone layer of the atmosphere above the continent of Antarctica. Air pollution has also had a negative impact on humankind, flora, fauna and aquatic ecosystems through the occurrence of acid rain. In recent times, air pollution has become more prevalent among environmental issues in Asia as in other parts of the world. The problem is manifesting itself in other commercial centers, including Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.The health response to air pollution in urban areas of Chittagong, Khulna, Bogra and Rajshahi is less than in Dhaka. Houses are often built on rocks and soils in urban areas around the world from which radioactive gas is emitted. Prolonged inhalation of this gas can lead to lung cancer. Air pollution has not yet been identified as a major problem in rural Bangladesh.Because in these areas the number of mechanized vehicles is less and the number of industrial factories is also less. However, there is a significant amount of air pollution in suburban and rural areas from brick kilns and cooking furnaces. In rural areas, wood, coal and various types of organic matter are used as fuel. As a result, the main air pollutants in rural areas are probably volatile organic compounds (VOCs).Air pollution in Bangladesh is mainly from two sources - industrial emissions and vehicle emissions. Air pollution mainly affects brick kilns, fertilizer factories, sugar mills, paper mills, jute mills, textile mills, spinning mills, tanneries, garment factories, bread and biscuit mills, chemical and pharmaceutical mills, cement mills, metal workshops, saw mills, etc. .Air pollution is also caused by dust generated from cultivated land and coastal islands and coastal land areas by sea salt particles. These sources of air pollution produce large amounts of smoke, steam, gas and dust, which create a foggy and smoky environment.These sources of air pollution produce large amounts of smoke, steam, gas and dust, which create a foggy and smoky environment. Some types of industrial factories in Bangladesh such as tanneries located in Hazaribagh of Dhaka city are constantly emitting hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, chlorine and some other types of odorless chemicals which are both toxic and irritating to the local people.These pollutants are causing headaches and other health problems. Due to the high rate of urbanization, the number of vehicles in the city is increasing, which is causing air pollution at a higher rate. The Department of the Environment and other environmental organizations have identified two-stroke engine autorickshaws (baby taxis), tempos, mini-trucks and motorcycles as major air pollutants.At present (2001) out of more than 296,000 motor vehicles plying in Dhaka city, about 75,000 are baby taxis with two stroke engines. As well as overloading passengers and goods, old buses and trucks with weak engines are emitting black smoke and toxic gases on city streets. In fact, more than 90 per cent of the vehicles plying on the roads of Dhaka every day are faulty, emitting more than a tolerable amount of smoke every day.Diesel-powered vehicles emit black smoke so that fine carbon particles that do not complete combustion exist. Two-stroke engines are currently being discouraged in the Dhaka metropolis due to high pollution. In the context of air pollution caused by vehicles in the metropolis, the World Bank has taken initiative to increase the number of big buses in the cities instead of small vehicles including baby taxis. The arrival of air-conditioned vehicles in Dhaka metropolis is the result of this initiative.Sophisticated equipment is currently being used in Bangladesh to detect air pollutants. Air pollution monitoring centers have been set up in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Bogra. There are smoke testing centers at Tejgaon, Farmgate, Manik Mia Avenue, Gulshan, Lalmatia and Agargaon in Dhaka. Bangladesh University of Engineering has been conducting regular air quality tests since 1995.Different types of air quality levels for residential areas, industrial areas, commercial areas and sensitive areas. The most polluted areas of Dhaka city are Hatkhola, Manik Mia Avenue, Tejgaon, Farmgate, Motijheel, Lalmatia and Mohakhali. A survey conducted from January 1990 to December 1999 found that the concentration of pollutant particles in the atmosphere increased to 3,000 micrograms per cubic meter.
In January 1997, the concentration of pollutants in the atmosphere in the Tejgaon industrial area was 1,849 micrograms per cubic meter, which is much higher than the acceptable level of 500 micrograms per cubic meter in that area. Air pollution in Dhaka is usually observed during the dry months from December to March.Air pollution, dust and gas from the mines cause problems in the coal mines. Fortunately, the amount of gas in the Barapukuria coal mine in Dinajpur district is very insignificant, so there is very little chance of methane gas emission and other disasters related to methane gas in the process of extracting coal from the mine. Since coal will be extracted mechanically from the Barapukuria coal mine, a large quantity of coal powder will also be produced, but it would have been possible to control it if proper steps had been taken.Similarly, a large amount of dust and sand will be generated from Madhyapara hard rock mine in Dinajpur district. In addition, frequent traffic and loading and unloading process are likely to generate a lot of dust. Gas caused by the combustion of coal, fuel and lubricants on the surface and in mining cavities can contaminate the air in the surrounding area. Dust created during the cutting, smelting, crushing and transportation of coal and hard rock from mines is a threat to mine workers and the people of the surrounding area.
All in all, the government needs to play a leading role in tackling the air pollution situation in Bangladesh. However, this pollution situation can reduce the awareness of the general public. If we ourselves are aware of the prevention of air pollution in the world, then countless lives will be saved, we will be free from various kinds of diseases.
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