AIR QUALITY OF DHAKA CITY: A CASE OF VEHICULAR POLLUTION

K.  Azad; J.  Sultana; J.  Akter

doi:10.53808/KUS.2005.1and2.0311-L

Authors

K. Azad Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh
J. Sultana Department of Physics, Khulna University of Engineering & Technology, Khulna 9203, Bangladesh
J. Akter Environmental Science Discipline, Khulna University, Khulna 9208, Bangladesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53808/KUS.2005.1and2.0311-L

Keywords:

Air quality, air pollution, vehicle, SOx, NOx, Dhaka

Abstract

Air pollution is causing a serious threat to public health in most of the urban centers of developing countries including Dhaka of Bangladesh, which is one of the most polluted cities in the present world. The road users in Dhaka city frequently complain about headache, eye and skin irritation and breathing problem. The research has find out that the situation is expected to be worsening further with the increase of population, economic development and high influx of people from rural areas to urbanized Dhaka. Motor vehicle is increasing at 5% per year in Dhaka, which is the most significant source of air pollution. The paper has analyzed the vehicular population structure and trends in Dhaka from 1990 to 2000 along with the role of different types of motor vehicle in this trends. The analysis show that 2-wheeler vehicle, car and taxi and 3-wheeler occupied 45, 22 and 12% respectively in 1992; while those were 38, 26 and 16% respectively in 2000. It is observed from the results that total NO_X (Oxides of Nitrogen) emission in 2000 was 31903 tones and among them 3-wheeler vehicles, diesel trucks, and cars and taxis respectively contributed 44, 33 and 11%, while the total SO_X (Oxides of Sulfur) emission was 19386 tones; and emitted by 58% and 17% from diesel truck, and car and taxi respectively. Finally, the research recommends several strategies for vehicular emission control with the aim of improving existing air quality in Dhaka.

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