Plenary, Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)
Landscape of the atmospheric pollution of highly polluted megacity (Dhaka, Bangladesh): human health and climate change impact Abdus Salam * Dean, Faculty of Science & Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Dhaka, Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh & Co-Chair, International Global Atmospheric Chemistry (IGAC). Contact: E-mail: asalam@gmail.com; asalam@du.ac.bd; Tel.: +8801817061160 Atmospheric pollution significantly impacts human health, climate change, agriculture, and ecosystems. Over 90% of the global population breathes polluted air, making air pollution the second leading risk factor for human mortality, accounting for more than 8.1 million deaths worldwide. Black carbon and greenhouse gases are major contributors to global warming, a primary consequence of climate change. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) is one of the most polluted regions in the World. In various cities within the IGP, levels of particulate matter (e.g., PM2.5), aerosol optical depth (AOD), and trace gases (such as CH 4 , O 3 , NOx, and SOx) frequently exceed World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. High concentrations of reactive gases and particulate matter significantly contribute to the region’s poor air quality. Major sources of this pollution include fossil fuel combustion from vehicles and industries, construction dust, household cooking, and biomass burning. Additionally, transported air masses play a crucial role in deteriorating air quality. Human exposure to air pollutants varies by location. At the conference, I will present an overview of the air quality situation in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a highly polluted megacity, discussing long-term trends, chemical composition, and seasonal variations, exposure and mitigation of atmospheric pollution, impact on climate change. Key words: Air Quality, Particulate Matter, Trace Gases, Personal Exposure
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