Strengthening country’s air quality standards would save 81,282 lives
City Desk :
A press conference and report launching event titled “Clean Air for Healthy Lives: Urgency of Addressing Air Quality” was organized jointly by the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) and the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) at Manik Mia Hall, National Press Club, Dhaka. During the event, a report titled “Public Health Impact of Fine Particulate Air Pollution in Bangladesh” was unveiled. Additionally, data-driven analyses were presented on the health risks posed by air pollution in Dhaka and other major cities across the country, emphasizing the necessity for effective national policies. An interactive Dashboard was also launched at the program, offering all stakeholders the ability to monitor real-time pollution data and its associated health impacts at city and district levels. This initiative aims to promote informed decision-making and increase public awareness.
The press conference and report launching event were moderated by Professor Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, Chairman of CAPS. The program was graced by the presence of Professor Dr. Adil Mohammed Khan, President of the Bangladesh Institute of Planners, as the chief guest. Mr. Tapan Kumar Biswas, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, attended as the Guest of Honor, while Ms. Nayoka Martinez-Backstrom, First Secretary, Environment & Climate Change, Sweden Embassy Bangladesh, attended as a special guest. Other notable attendees included Dr. Mahbubul Islam, former Associate Professor of Respiratory Medicine at Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College; Dr. Ayesha Akhter, Deputy Director of the 250-Bed TB Hospital; and Advocate Syed Mahbubul Alam Tahin, Secretary of the Center for Law and Policy Affairs (CLPA). The main report was presented by Dr. Jamie Kelly, the air quality analyst of CREA. CREA Southeast Asia Analyst and lead author, Daniel Nesan was joined the Zoom Platform.
According to a new analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), PM2.5 is responsible for roughly 102,456 deaths in the country annually, related to ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lower respiratory infections, and lung cancer. Children under five are especially vulnerable, with 5,258 deaths annually attributed to PM2.5-related lower respiratory infections. Alongside, ?Bangladesh?s air pollution is leading to thousands of premature births, low birth weights, and childhood deaths each year. These outcomes highlight the urgent need for targeted interventions to protect those who are least able to protect themselves. PM2.5 also weakens the economy by creating around 266 million sick days each year, a huge loss in productivity impacting the economic resilience of businesses and families alike. Addressing Bangladesh?s air pollution represents an investment in both public health and the domestic economy said CREA Air Quality Analyst, Dr Jamie Kelly.
?CREA?s analysis of di?erent air quality standards, Bangladesh?s standards, and the 2005 and 2021 WHO guidelines, demonstrates that aligning PM2.5 levels with even modest improvements can yield substantial national health benefits. By enforcing stricter controls and adopting cleaner energy solutions, air pollution levels can be dramatically reduced, said CREA Southeast Asia Analyst and lead author, Daniel Nesan.
CAPS Chairman Prof. Dr. Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumdar said that the level of air pollution in Dhaka city has increased to such an extent that it is not only affecting the human body but also disturbing the mental health. Therefore, if effective measures and policies are not taken to monitor and prevent pollution from this moment, the present and future generations will have to face a lot of health risks due to air pollution.
