UNB, Dhaka
One in every four children of the city faces abnormal lung functioning due to ambient air pollution, says a new study.
Collecting 500 samples from four different age groups, mostly from the 10-20 age group, during January and February 2016 in the capital, the study found that around 24 percent of city dwellers are suffering from abnormal lung functioning.
Bangladesh University’s Urban Lab conducted the study aiming to test the pulmonary function of city dwellers according to age and gender. The findings of the study titled ‘Impact of Air Pollution on Public Health’ were disclosed at a programme jointly organised by the Bangladesh University and Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) at Krishibid Institution in the capital on Thursday. Pediatric specialist of Dhaka Shishu Hospital Md Ruhul Amin said city dwellers have been suffering from various diseases like pneumonia, asthma and heart diseases caused by air pollution.
Citing the study findings, he said abnormal lung functioning was found more among women than men, and the lung dysfunction is on the rise in line with the growing age. “Air pollution is the main reason behind people’s abnormal lung functioning,” the pediatrician said. Clean air is considered to be a basic requirement of human health and well-being. However, air pollution continues to pose a significant threat to health worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the evidence on airborne particulate matter (PM) and its public health impact is consistent in showing adverse health effects at exposures that are currently experienced by urban populations in both developed and developing countries.