Rajshahi, August 20 (Correspondent/OurVoice): Barindra Poribesh Unnayan Sechchashebi Sangstha (BPUSS), in collaboration with Barind Environment, measured the amount of particulate matter in the air at various places in the eco-friendly city of Rajshahi on Saturday.
It can be noted that, particles in air quality was also measured in dry season on 5 March 2022 in Rajshahi city. Followed by the measurement of dry season, it was measured again in wet season on August 2022. This time it was measured in the same places including Talaimari, Railgate, Saheb Bazar Zero Point and Laxmipur Circle as crowded places and near BSCIC Moth Pukur considering an industrial area.
Engineer Md. Zakir Hossain Khan (PhD) led the ambient air quality monitoring. He was assisted, among others, by Oli Ahmed (PhD researcher), Obaidullah, Shamsur Rahman Sharif and Ifat Ara.
The main objective of the air test was to observe the particulate matter present in the air of Rajshahi in the rainy season. Existing PM2.5 and PM10 were determined during this study. According to S.R.O. 255-Law/2022 of Bangladesh and Environmental Conservation Rules 1997 of Bangladesh, the prescribed volume of ambient air in Bangladesh is 65 µg/m3 for PM2.5 and 150 µg/m3 for PM10 for 24 hours average.
The maximum PM2.5 and PM10 were found in the test at the Talaimari Circle at 41 and 49 µg/m3 respectively. The maximum PM2.5 and PM10 obtained were much less than the prescribed density in Bangladesh. Measured PM2.5 and PM10 near Saheb Bazar Zero Point was 35 µg/m3 and 42 µg/m3; near BSCIC Moth Pukur was 37 µg/m3 and 45 µg/m3; near Laxmipur Circle was 37 µg/m3 and 45 µg/m3 and near Railgate was 38 µg/m3 and 46 µg/m3. This measurement was carried out from 9:00 am to 01.00 pm and humidity was around 85% with drizzling during ambient air quality monitoring.
PM2.5 is a stronger risk factor than the coarse part of PM10. Particles in the PM2.5 size range are able to travel deeply into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs. Exposure to fine particles can cause health effects such as eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing, sneezing, runny nose and shortness of breath.
The impacts of ambient PM2.5 on public health have become great concerns worldwide, especially in the developing countries. Epidemiological and toxicological studies have shown that PM2.5 does not only induce cardiopulmonary disorders and/or impairments, but also causes a variety of other adverse health effects, such as driving the initiation and progression of diabetes mellitus and eliciting adverse birth outcomes.
