Air pollution also behind accidents, say experts

Air pollution largely contributes to visibility reduction during dry season, causing accidents on the country’s roads and waterways, said environmental experts yesterday, reports UNB.
According to them, a visibility reduction is probably the most apparent symptom of air pollution. Visibility degradation is caused by absorption and scattering of light by particles and gases in the atmosphere.
“Some road and waterway accidents recently occurred in the country due to poor visibility. And air pollution is largely contributing to visibility reduction here,” Dr Abdus Salam, a chemistry professor of Dhaka University, told a press conference on the university campus after a two-day regional workshop.
At least nine people, including Land Minister Shamsur Rahman’s son, were killed in road crashes on Bangabandhu Bridge in Tangail and Chuadanga on January 9 last. All the accidents are believed to be taken place due to poor visibility during foggy weather.
Dhaka University, US Department of State and Arcadis, USA, jointly arranged the workshop on ‘Emission from Brick Kilns’ at Mukarram Hussain Khundkher Biggan Bhaban on the campus.
About Dhaka city’s air pollution, Prof Abdus Salam said the level of Particulates Matter (PM) 2.5 concentration on average is 63 μg/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter air) here, but the permissible level of World Health Organization (WHO) is 25 μg/m3.
Particulates Matter 2.5 is a fined particle, which is extremely harmful to human health and may cause many dangerous diseases like cancer.
According to a study published in 2011 shows that during non-monsoon period PM 10 concentration varies from 100 μg/m3 to 250 μg/m3 and PM 2.5 varies from 70 μg/m3 to 165 μg/m3.
Prof Salam said brick kilns, fossil oil-run vehicles and engines, and coal-burning are generating black carbon here, polluting the country’ s air. “About 38 percent of black carbon is coming from the country’s traditional brick kilns.”
He said black carbon is adversely affecting agriculture, human health and ecosystem as well.
Dr Ram Lal Verma of Regional Resources Centre for Asia and Pacific, Bangkok said Bangladesh can reduce air pollution by improving brick kiln technology as about 75 percent of bricks are currently baked following traditional technology.
Arcadis vice president Dr Wojciech Jozewicz and Bidya Banamali Pradhan from Nepal also spoke at the press  conference.

Air pollution also behind accidents, say experts

Air pollution largely contributes to visibility reduction during dry season, causing accidents on the countrys roads and waterways, said environmental experts yesterday, reports UNB. According to them, a visibility reduction is probably the most apparent symptom of air pollution. Visibility degradation is caused by absorption and scattering of light by particles and gases in the atmosphere. Some road and waterway accidents recently occurred in the country due to poor visibility. And air pollution is largely contributing to visibility reduction here, Dr Abdus Salam, a chemistry professor of Dhaka University, told a press conference on the university campus after a two-day regional workshop. At least nine people, including Land Minister Shamsur Rahmans son, were killed in road crashes on Bangabandhu Bridge in Tangail and Chuadanga on January 9 last. All the accidents are believed to be taken place due to poor visibility during foggy weather. Dhaka University, US Department of State and Arcadis, USA, jointly arranged the workshop on Emission from Brick Kilns at Mukarram Hussain Khundkher Biggan Bhaban on the campus. About Dhaka citys air pollution, Prof Abdus Salam said the level of Particulates Matter (PM) 2.5 concentration on average is 63 g/m3 (micrograms per cubic meter air) here, but the permissible level of World Health Organization (WHO) is 25 g/m3. Particulates Matter 2.5 is a fined particle, which is extremely harmful to human health and may cause many dangerous diseases like cancer. According to a study published in 2011 shows that during non-monsoon period PM 10 concentration varies from 100 g/m3 to 250 g/m3 and PM 2.5 varies from 70 g/m3 to 165 g/m3. Prof Salam said brick kilns, fossil oil-run vehicles and engines, and coal-burning are generating black carbon here, polluting the country s air. About 38 percent of black carbon is coming from the countrys traditional brick kilns. He said black carbon is adversely affecting agriculture, human health and ecosystem as well. Dr Ram Lal Verma of Regional Resources Centre for Asia and Pacific, Bangkok said Bangladesh can reduce air pollution by improving brick kiln technology as about 75 percent of bricks are currently baked following traditional technology. Arcadis vice president Dr Wojciech Jozewicz and Bidya Banamali Pradhan from Nepal also spoke at the press conference.