Air Pollution second largest cause of death & disability in Bangladesh: World Bank

Tags: Reports International News

According to a World Bank report released on 4 December, 2022, air pollution is the second largest cause of death and disability in Bangladesh and costs about 3.9 to 4.00 percent of the country’s GDP.

Important facts

• According to report air pollution caused the death of between 78,000 to 88,000 thousand people in Bangladesh in 2019.

• Bangladesh was ranked as the most polluted country in the world, and Dhaka as the second most polluted city each year between 2018 and 2021.

• The report found that major construction sites and traffic in Dhaka have the highest levels of pollution.

• In these places, particulate matter (PM2.5), which is considered the most dangerous to health, exceeds WHO air quality guidelines (AQG) by an average of 150 percent, which is equivalent to smoking about 1.7 cigarettes per day.

• The second highest concentration of PM2.5 levels is found near brick kilns in Greater Dhaka, which is 136 percent above the WHO AQG – equivalent to smoking 1.6 cigarettes per day.

• In Bangladesh, Dhaka is the most polluted division while Sylhet is the least polluted. 

• The western regions (Khulna and Rajshahi) are more polluted than the eastern ones (Sylhet and Chattogram).

• Exposure to high levels of air pollution increases the risk of difficulties in breathing, cough, respiratory tract infections, depression, and other health conditions.

• The World Bank report said children under five, the elderly and people with diabetes, heart or respiratory disease are most vulnerable.