�A quarter of Dhaka residents suffer from lungs ailments�
Staff Reporter
Nearly 25 per cent of the capitals population is suffering from different lung ailments as a result of air pollution, mostly affecting the elderly, women and children, a study revealed yesterday.
The study, Effects of Air Pollution on Citizens Health, was carried out by the Urban Lab of the private Bangladesh University (BU) and by Professor Mohammad Ruhul Amin of the Dhaka Shishu Hospital. A Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) was carried out on over 500 people belonging to different age groups from 11 localities of the capital. Professor Ruhul Amin presented his study report during a function at the Krishibid Institution, organised by BU and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC).
Professor Ruhul Amin noted that the PFT results showed that on average 23.47 per cent of the city residents suffer from lung conditions, of which 22.18 per cent are men and 24.72 per cent women. Brig Malik mentioned that the presence of heavy metals such as sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, mercury and lead in the air have a negative effect on the lungs, liver and heart conditions of the people, with special reference to expectant mothers.
Taking part in discussion on the study, DNCC Mayor Annisul Huq observed that thousands of tons of effluents are generated daily from construction materials, hospital garbage and domestic garbage in the city. Most of them get into the air, leaving children with different diseases because of air pollution.
Although the government has taken up many steps to reduce pollution, every citizen needs to come forward in this regard, he said. The DNCC Mayor announced that in the next two years, 325,000 trees would be planted in Dhaka to help reduce pollution.
