Air pollution has emerged as Bangladesh's deadliest health threat, cutting an average of 5.5 years from the life expectancy of every Bangladeshi citizen, according to a devastating new report released by the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute.
The comprehensive study, published as part of the Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2025 Annual Update, positions air pollution as a more severe health hazard than smoking, malnutrition, or unsafe water, fundamentally reshaping understanding of the country's most pressing public health crisis.
National Health Emergency
The report's findings paint an alarming picture of a nation suffocating under toxic air. Every single resident among Bangladesh's 166.8 million population lives in areas where pollution levels exceed both World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines and national standards. Even Lalmonirhat, the country's least polluted district, records air pollution levels seven times higher than WHO safety thresholds.
"Bangladeshis are losing more years of life to dirty air than to smoking or malnutrition," declared Michael Greenstone, director of EPIC and creator of the Air Quality Life Index. The comparison is stark: while tobacco use reduces life expectancy by approximately 2 years and malnutrition by 1.4 years, air pollution steals 5.5 years from every life.
Urban Centers Face Devastating Impact
The capital city Dhaka bears the heaviest toll, with residents potentially gaining 6.9 years of additional life if WHO standards were met. Even meeting Bangladesh's weaker national standard of 35 µg/m³ would add over 4 years to Dhaka residents' lives.
In Chittagong, the country's second-largest city, residents could gain 6.2 years under WHO limits and 3.3 years under national standards. Similar devastating impacts extend across industrial centers: Gazipur residents could gain up to 7.1 years, Narayanganj 6.6 years, and people in Cumilla, Tangail, Khulna, and Mymensingh between 5-6 years.
Alarming Pollution Trajectory
Between 1998 and 2023, PM₂.₅ pollution concentrations surged by 66 percent, reducing life expectancy by an additional 2.4 years during this period. This upward trajectory positions Bangladesh as the world's most polluted country, with current pollution levels averaging 60.8 µg/m³ - more than 12 times the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Recent global rankings consistently place Bangladesh among the world's most polluted nations. In 2024, Bangladesh ranked second globally for air pollution, with Dhaka ranking as the third most polluted capital city worldwide, recording an average PM₂.₅ concentration of 78.0 µg/m³.
Deadly Health Consequences
The health impact extends far beyond reduced life expectancy. Air pollution contributes to approximately 102,456 deaths annually in Bangladesh, including 29,920 deaths from ischemic heart disease, 23,075 from stroke, 20,976 from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 9,720 from lower respiratory infections, and 3,063 from lung cancer.
A recent comprehensive health assessment revealed that air pollution causes over 272,000 premature deaths and 5.2 billion days of illness annually, with economic costs equivalent to 17.6 percent of Bangladesh's GDP in 2019. Household and outdoor air pollution alone account for nearly 55 percent of premature deaths, costing 8.32 percent of GDP.
Children and Vulnerable Populations Most at Risk
The pollution crisis disproportionately affects Bangladesh's most vulnerable populations. Lead poisoning from air pollution causes irreversible damage to children's brain development, resulting in an estimated annual loss of nearly 20 million IQ points. Household emissions from cooking with solid fuels particularly impact women and children, while older adults report significantly higher health issues compared to younger populations.
A recent study involving 398 adult residents found that 90 percent reported living in air-polluted environments, with construction activities identified as the predominant pollution source by 31 percent of participants.
Industrial Sources Drive Crisis
Bangladesh's air pollution stems from multiple sources, with brick kilns emerging as a primary contributor. Research indicates that brick kilns contribute 30-40 percent of measured PM₂.₅ concentrations in Dhaka, with seasonal averages reaching 15-60 µg/m³ during operational months. The number of brick kilns has increased dramatically from 307 in 2006 to 551 by 2018, directly correlating with rising pollution levels.
Vehicle emissions represent another significant source, particularly in densely populated urban areas where traffic congestion creates pollution hotspots. Industrial processes, construction activities, and agricultural burning compound the crisis across the nation.
Global Context and Regional Impact
South Asia as a region suffers the world's dirtiest air, with Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan experiencing extreme PM₂.₅ levels that dwarf other global regions. The region accounts for more than half of total life years lost globally to pollution, with air pollution posing greater threats than malnutrition, unsafe water, and infectious diseases combined.
While China successfully reduced pollution levels by 42.3 percent between 2013-2021, demonstrating that improvement is possible with sustained policy commitment, South Asian nations continue struggling with worsening air quality.
Policy Response and Challenges
The Bangladesh government launched the National Air Quality Management Plan (NAQMP) 2024-2030 as a comprehensive framework to combat air pollution. The plan emphasizes sectoral emission reductions, capacity-building, and public engagement, targeting WHO Interim Target 1 for PM₂.₅ in the near term.
Recent interventions include a High Court order in 2019 to shut down illegal brick kilns around Dhaka and government decisions to use concrete blocks instead of bricks in all future projects by 2025. However, enforcement remains challenging with approximately 6,500 brick kilns operating across the country, monitored by only six magistrates.
Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan acknowledged the scale of the challenge: "It is unrealistic to expect significant improvements in air quality within just six months. However, we have taken several measures that give us hope for better air quality in Dhaka and other parts of the country."
Urgent Call for Action
Health experts emphasize that meeting even Bangladesh's current national air quality standard of 35 µg/m³ could prevent over 133,000 premature deaths per year and add 5.8 years to average life expectancy. Achieving WHO guidelines would prevent 81,282 deaths annually while eliminating almost all asthma-related emergency visits and preterm births.
The report recommends immediate implementation of stricter industrial emissions regulations, enhanced vehicular emissions standards, promotion of cleaner energy sources, and expansion of air quality monitoring infrastructure. Targeted interventions in high-burden urban centers, particularly Dhaka and Chittagong, could yield the most significant health benefits.
As Bangladesh confronts this silent health emergency, the findings serve as a stark reminder that environmental degradation carries devastating human costs. Without urgent, sustained action to address pollution sources and strengthen air quality management, millions of Bangladeshis will continue losing precious years of life to the toxic air they breathe daily.
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