Dhaka, often ranked among the most polluted cities in the world, contains air pollutants that were more than five times higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended standard, according to a new study.
The study highlighted the growing health crisis that many are unaware of pollution inside homes in Dhaka.
The study led by Shakhaoat Hossain, Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health and Informatics of Jahangirnagar University, underscores the severe risks posed by indoor air pollution in Dhaka.
"While much attention has been focused on outdoor air pollution, the dangers lurking within homes have largely been overlooked," said Shakhaoat.
The study, published in the Indoor Environments journal, measured the levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in 43 households across Dhaka.
The research findings show that the concentration of harmful pollutants inside these homes was five times higher than the World Health Organisation's (WHO) recommended standard.
The average PM2.5 level recorded was 75.69 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the WHO standard of 15 micrograms per cubic meter, shows the study.
The pollution levels surpassed 200 micrograms per cubic meter, indicating a severe indoor air quality issue in certain homes, the study revealed.
Shakhaoat Hossain identified several key contributors, including chemicals generated from tire friction during road traffic, the burning of plastic in landfills and the use of unrefined oil in cooking.
These sources release toxic substances that severely compromise air quality both indoors and outdoors.
Besides, the outdoor polluted air infiltrating homes, long cooking hours, inadequate ventilation and small room sizes exacerbate the situation.
Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of indoor air pollution, as they tend to spend more time inside their homes, the study found.
The study emphasised the critical need for intervention, especially since people generally spend 60-65% of their time indoors.
The study's findings point to the urgent need for identifying and controlling the sources of household air pollution.
To mitigate the health risks, Shakhaoat Hossain proposed several practical measures. One effective strategy is to prevent the entry of outdoor polluted air by keeping windows closed.
He also recommended the use of air purifiers equipped with HEPA filters, which can significantly reduce particulate matter in indoor air.
