Chandan Mondal: "Bring a handful of fresh air, brother. I want to take fresh air to live a little better." The expectation of conscious people is the same as the expectation of the sentence. Just as human beings cannot survive without fresh and fresh air, so lack of clean air is the cause of death of human beings. In addition to the fauna, clean air plays an important role in plants, water and soil. Man, known as the best creature of creation, continues to pollute this invaluable resource of nature in the name of industrialization. Excessive air pollution poses a serious risk to public health. Children, pregnant women and the elderly are most at risk.

At present, Dhaka city of 20 million people is covered with toxic air. When you keep your eyes on the blue sky, your vision gets stuck in the fog. The capital Dhaka has been at the top of the list of air pollution cities in the world for the past few years. Most recently, the air in Dhaka has been in the most dangerous condition in memory. Dhaka`s score in the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Friday (January 21) was 269, according to Air Visual, an international technology institute for air quality verification in various cities around the world based in the United States. Meanwhile, if the air quality index exceeds 200, it is considered as `very unhealthy`. Air Visual focuses on issues such as how clean or polluted the city`s air is, and what kind of health risks it poses when the air is polluted. According to a recent study by the air research institute CAPS, the average air pollution in the capital has increased by 9.8 percent in 2021 as compared to 2020. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), the average pollution level in 2020 was 145; Which is 159.01 in 2021. According to air experts, if effective measures are not taken now to prevent air pollution, the situation will get worse in the coming days.

According to experts, increasing urbanization has led to an increase in air pollution due to the construction of infrastructure and an increase in the number of vehicles and factories. In recent times, the number of coal-burning industries in the country has been increasing. At the same time, a lot of dust and smoke is being created in the construction work that is going on all over the country including Dhaka. In the dry season, those tiny particles are transported in large quantities in the air. And at this time more construction work is going on and all the brickfields of the country are running. But no government or non-government organization or individual obeys or tries to abide by the rules that are supposed to be obeyed during construction. Some of the other notable causes of air pollution are: industrialization, urbanization, industrial waste, black smoke from unfit vehicles, overcrowding, inadequate waste management and digging in the capital for sewerage systems are now commonplace. Dust, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons, lead or lead, ammonia, suspended particulate matter from various open-air installations in the air is largely responsible for air pollution. In addition, the city`s garbage dumps scatter and spread a foul odor that pollutes the air.

Polluted air causes severe damage to the human body. Inhalation of fine particles can cause a temporary shortness of breath, respiratory inflammation, eye irritation, and lung disease, but the long-term effects are greater. In addition to chronic respiratory disease, it can cause lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, severe damage to the nervous system, kidneys, liver and brain, and even premature death. Air pollution can cause major illnesses including pulmonary bronchitis, asthma, as well as minor health problems such as fever-cold, cold-cough, pneumonia. In addition, it gradually reduces lung function and weakens the lungs. As a result, human immunity can be reduced in the long run. In areas where there is excess lead in the air, it can cause severe reactions in newborns. According to the United Nations, 9 out of 10 people worldwide breathe in polluted air, and an estimated 8 million people die prematurely each year in low- and middle-income countries due to air pollution. What a terrible picture of air pollution!

In order to survive environmental disasters like air pollution, we have to make appropriate plans and steps now. Stop burning tires without the approval of the Department of Environment, stop unfit vehicles, stop battery recycling, stop illegal brick kilns, ensure that garbage from various shops or markets is dumped at designated places of City Corporation, pollution-related industries and constructions need to be properly monitored. Preventing air pollution is not impossible. As the government`s initiative to prevent pollution needs to be accelerated, the people also need to be aware. Effort. The administration and the media need to play the most important role in this. It is not possible for any single individual or organization to solve this problem. This requires a concerted effort. Let`s make our environment safe and clean, healthy and beautiful for the next generation through the combined efforts of all.

Author: Chandan Mondal is a Student of Department of Economics at Government Titumir College, Dhaka. Email address -: chandanmondal.tapos1632@gmail.com