Environmental Health Issues

This document discusses the environmental health issues in Dhaka city, Bangladesh, focusing on poor air quality. It provides a critical analysis of the driving forces behind declining air quality and the impact on the population. The document also explores the current measures being taken to address the issue and offers suggestions to improve air quality in Dhaka.

Running head: ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES 1
Environmental Health Issues
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ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ISSUES 2
Part 1
Critical analysis of driving forces
Poor air quality in Dhaka city, Bangladesh has been a significant issue in recent years.
The real-time air quality ranking has recently considered Dhaka as unhealthy. The DPSEEA
framework states that the driving forces that are leading to increased health and environmental
problems such as of declining air quality include economic development, population growth and
technological change (World Health Organization, 1999). Increased population has increased the
use of motor vehicles which result in increased emission of toxic gases. Technological change
and Economic development have resulted to the emergence of many industries that lead to air
pollution through the emission of toxic gases such as carbon, Sulphur and nitrogen oxide which
affect the air quality (Alam, 2017).
Majority of the driving forces can exert pressures to the environment leading to the
depletion of the air quality by the accumulation of pollutants. Factors such as policies, economic
infrastructures affect the extent to which the driving causes can cause pressure on the
environment. The pressure to the environment can occur as a result of production, distribution,
consumption and release of waste products into the environment and hence affecting human
health (World Health Organization, 1999). Policies such as regulation of the waste produced
from industries can help reduce the pressures to the environment.
According to the DPSEEA framework, the state changes that may occur after the various
pressures are exerted include depletion of the quality of the environment. The exposures only
happen once the people are exposed to a particular health threat (World Health Organization,
1999). For instance, in Dhaka city, the people are exposed to environmental pollutants, and

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hence they develop respiratory disorders and certain types of cancers. Once individuals are
exposed to certain pollutants, the health effects occur and may vary in magnitude, intensity and
type depending on the level of exposure and type of hazard. In Dhaka city, there has been
increased mortality and morbidity rates on diseases such as respiratory diseases, cancers and
cardiovascular diseases (Mahmood, 2011).
Critical analysis of the impact of the environmental risk upon the geographic
population
The effects of poor air quality include respiratory infections which are the leading cause
of mortality in children under five. Poor air quality also exacerbates conditions such as
emphysema and asthma (Gurjar et al., 2010). Data from the National Institute of Diseases of
Chest and Hospital indicates that an estimated seven million people have asthma. Poor air quality
as a result of air pollution can also lead to lung cancer and certain allergies. Poor air quality can
also result in cardiovascular illnesses as well as stroke and heart attack (Chowdhury & Imran,
2010).
The social, political or economic influences that aren't captured by the DPSEEA
framework include lack of political goodwill to implement the legislation concerning the
environment. Secondly, Corruption has also made it challenging to regulate air pollution from
industries. Lastly, the lack of enough finances has challenged the efforts to improve the air
quality in Dhaka city.

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Part 2
How the environmental Issues is currently being addressed
Although a lot of effort is being channeled to help improve the air quality in Dhaka city,
the rate of pollution continues to be high. Several projects have been implemented. For instance,
the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment Project is in the process of implementation to reduce
pollution from brick kilns and transportation areas (Habib, 2012). The project is keen on
reducing pollution from motor vehicles encouraging pedestrians to consider other options such as
walking and cycling. The project also encourages people to use other means of transport such as
trains. The government has also encouraged people not to move to the town areas by creating
employment opportunities in rural areas to reduce the rising population in urban areas (Divan &
Rosencranz, 2016).
The legislative and regulatory measures at the federal and state level include the
introduction of the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act (1995) that was enacted to protect
the environment. The main aim of the act include enhancing environmental standards and
mitigating environmental pollution. The act also aims at conserving the environment and
ensuring that people live in a clean environment. Although the act was enacted in 1995, there has
been little improvement as in 2011, Dhaka city was ranked the 2nd most polluted city in the
world. This means that strict measures has to be taken to ensure that the act satisfies it purpose,
(Momtaz, 2014).
The Environment Conservation Act resulted in the department of the Environment led by
the Director-General whose role is to come up with rules and regulations regarding pollution and
improving the environmental standards. The department has done a lot to sensitise the people on

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the effects of pollution on their health (Divan & Rosencranz, 2016). Although the department
has the power of closing industries that do not adhere to the regulations regarding pollution, they
have failed to exercise these powers. This can attributed to political and economic pressures.
The National Ambient air quality standards has been adopted in the environmental
control rules 1997 to meet the World air quality guidelines. Several amendments are being made
on the Environmental conservation rules 1997 to ensure that it conforms to the current
environmental challenges. The rules regulate both the pollution from industries and the brick
kiln. Several initiatives have been invented to amend the brick manufacturing and Kiln
Construction (control) act 2013 to reduce the emissions from brick kilns. The initiatives are also
keen on ensuring that there exists a less polluting and energy efficient brick industry
(Guttikunda, Begum & Wadud, 2013). The import policy has been reviewed to ensure that there
is a ban on the importation of coal with high sulphur content.
Other laws that have been implemented include the "Restriction regarding vehicles
emitting smoke injurious to health". This law has proven difficult to adopt because Dhaka city is
highly populated with an estimated 7 million people. Majority of the people living in the city are
of low socio-economic status making them rely on public means of transport which mostly
include old buses that emit thick black smoke that causes air pollution (Begum, Biswas &
Hopke, 2011)
There have been incentives by the Bangladesh Bank (central bank) to ensure that there is
the installation of pollution prevention technologies. The Bank gives soft loans to industries that
adopt environmentally friendly technology such as setting up solar panels to ensure that there is
reduced industrial pollution and enhance power supply. The department of environment conducts

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seminars and workshops to motivate the industries to adopt pollution control measures as well as
invent less polluting technologies (Greenstone & Hanna, 2014).
Several agencies play a crucial role in improving the air quality in Dhaka city. The World
Bank supports pollution management in Dhaka city by donating funds to ensure more effective
and systematic responses to harmful and deadly air pollution. The World Bank also raises
awareness about the effects of pollution on health. The World Health Organization offers
guidelines on pollution and gives indicators to monitor pollution (Greenstone & Hanna, 2014).
The role of Public health agencies in improving air quality includes community
sensitisation on how to reduce pollution. Community sensitisation includes giving health
education to the community members to adopt options such as cycling and walking to reduce
pollution from vehicles. It also entails educating the people working in industries on the
importance of utilizing new technology that reduces pollution. The public health agencies also
create awareness using posters and pamphlets to ensure that people know to learn about the
dangers of pollution and how to control it. It also engages in cleaning activities to ensure that
people are safe from pollution (Mahmood, 2011).
Suggestions to address gaps in current policy, regulation and management for
improving air quality in Dhaka
The gaps in policies can be addressed by involving relevant stakeholders in the
formulation and implementation of policies to ensure that the process is successful. Secondly, the
department of the environment should improve on how it enforces the regulations regarding
pollution by ensuring that once an individual breaches the law, they are held accountable.
Thirdly, the penalty regarding pollution should be increased to discourage people from engaging

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in any pollution. Fourthly, the environmental law should also be revised to ensure that it is more
detailed and easy to understand (Roy, 2016).
Measures should also be put into place to ensure participation of relevant agencies,
households, organisations, individuals and households in environmental pollution. In addition, a
reward mechanism should be adopted to ensure that organizations, local people and businesses
detect the violation and take action to reduce pollution activities. Also, the individuals who grant
licensees to industries that pollute the environment should be held responsible. Lastly, the people
living in residential areas should also be allowed to protest the licensing of construction of
projects that may result in pollution (Roy, 2016).
In conclusion, although appropriate measures have been put into place to improve air
quality in Dhaka city, much has to be done. Poor air quality has led to adverse health effects such
as respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, lung cancer and certain allergies. This means
that appropriate measures such as increasing fines, improving legislation and offering health
education should be adopted to help solve the issue.

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References
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Begum, B. A., Biswas, S. K., & Hopke, P. K. (2011). Key issues in controlling air pollutants in
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Chowdhury, T., & Imran, M. (2010). Morbidity costs of vehicular air pollution: examining
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