DHAKA is rated as one of the most polluted cities in the world. Dust and dirt have become an integral part of our life. The media are vociferous about its health effects and the environmentalists of the country are quite vocal about the issue. The general people also feel greatly concerned about the health hazards of dust. The problem of dust gets aggravated during the winter season when there is no rainfall and the weather is dry. After a bout of rain, we feel better as there is no dust in the air. During the winter, among other things, construction woks gather momentum. The amount of dust that is produced during such construction works is enormous, more so because we hardly see construction sites duly covered. Dust particles mixed with the air make the surrounding areas of the projects almost unliveable.
In the developed countries we see construction sites are neatly covered with thick curtains so that dust and other particles cannot pollute the environment. In Bonosrree, where I live the dust problem is acute particularly for infants, sick and elderly people. We do not need an expert to see the dust problem in Dhaka, it is visible in naked eye. All we need to do is to acknowledge the problem and take steps to redress it.
Dust is a common air pollutant and man-made dust is common in urban areas. Smaller or fine dust particles are invisible. For people with respiratory conditions like asthma, chronic obstructive airways disease (COAD) or emphysema even small increases in dust concentration can make their symptoms worse. We must protect ourselves from it.
Mohammed Sohel Hara
Bonosree, Dhaka
[email protected]
