Micro-environmental dynamics of particulate (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) air pollution in Rajshahi City: a spatiotemporal analysis

Abstract

Purpose

Bangladesh is one of the leading countries that has been facing serious air pollution issues, with an exponentially higher death rate attributed to it than other environmental pollution. This study aims to identify the sources and dynamics of particulate matter (PM) pollution across different micro-environments in Rajshahi City.

Design/methodology/approach

PMs’ concentration data were collected from 60 sampling stations, located across the six micro-environments of the study area, throughout the year using “HT 9600 Particle Counter.” To assess the level of pollution, the air quality index (AQI) was calculated, and different methods, including observation, group discussion, interview and questionnaire survey, were used to identify the pollution sources.

Findings

Both PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ exhibit varied concentrations in different micro-environments, and the area covered by different AQI classes differs considerably throughout the year. The monthly average concentration of PM_2.5 and PM₁₀ was highest in January, 200 and 400 µg/m³ and was lowest in September, 46 and 99 µg/m³, respectively. Among the total 1,440 observations, 853 observations (59.24%) exceeded the national standard. Based on the pollution level, different months and micro-environments in the city have been ranked in descending order as January > December > February > March > April > November > October > May > June > July > August > September and traffic > commercial > industrial > residential > green cover > riverine environment.

Originality/value

Although numerous research has been conducted on air pollution in Bangladesh, the authors are certain that no attempt has been made to address the issue from a multi- micro-environmental perspective. This makes the methodology and findings truly unique and significant in the context of air pollution research in Bangladesh.

Citation

Mahmud, H., Shobnom, K., Ali, M.R., Muntakim, N., Kulsum, U., Baroi, D.S., Ahmed, Z., Rahman, M.M. and Hassan, M.Z. (2024), "Micro-environmental dynamics of particulate (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) air pollution in Rajshahi City: a spatiotemporal analysis", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. ahead-of-print No. ahead-of-print. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-08-2023-0265