Dhaka consistently charts high in lists of cities with the least breathable air and the situation has remained untenable for a while; but now we can add yet another feather to that morbid cap as Dhaka is now the city with the highest number of premature deaths from exposure to its incredibly polluted air.
Premature deaths are defined as deaths which occur well before the average age of death within a certain population. According to a recent study, Bangladesh has witnessed around 27,000 premature deaths due to air pollution, with Chittagong being the second highest contributor.
One of the leading causes of this accelerated deterioration of air has been chalked up to the accelerating presence of various harmful particles in our air, which is directly correlated to the chaotic manner that our cities are being developed -- the study observed significant year-on-year increases of fine pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ammonia (NH3), reactive volatile organic compounds and PM 2.5.
We are now far beyond the realm where this is simply a matter of concern.
The abject bastardization of our air is now resulting in lives being lost well before their natural time of passing and the government needs to step in. Time and again we have spoken about how kilns in brickfields which surround Dhaka need to be reined in as they contribute heavily to our air pollution, and yet very little is done about it.
There is no mistaking this: When it comes to pollution, we are rapidly approaching critical mass. Any further upward trends in our air pollution can have drastic effects on life expectancy of citizens.
We cannot keep losing lives because of environmental negligence. Something must be done and it needs to be done yesterday.
