SumDiscAirP

Bangladesh Environment Network

Summary of discussion on Air Pollution, January 1999.
(archived at BEN discussion site)

Dipen Bhattacharya Moderator, January

I. A PRELIMINARY SUMMARY January 1-15, 1999

Four categories are used to simplify the summary. I must have overlooked many important points that the participants made. I request them to fill in. The summary is just a run log of discussion. This is only meant to help people to keep tab on what has been on the table. At the end of the summary I have attached a list of future works (titled "II. What Next?"). Again this is just to keep the discussion and activism alive.

Saleh Tanveer's initial questions on the health effects of air pollution, data sampling uncertainties and lead emission got good responses. These questions are addressed by Mahbubul Islam and Masud Karim. The participants discussed the high content of lead, NO, NO2, HC, PM and SO2 in the air of urban centers in Bangladesh and its consequences.

Mahbubul Islam pointed out a very valuable website: the EPA homepage http:\\www.epa.gov, where one can obtain the health related consequences of air pollution and other relevant information. Subsequently, Masud Karim has provided us with an extensive list of references related to the study of air quality in Bangladesh. Another important webpage, that of World Bank's Bangladesh country website, http:\\worldbank-bangladesh.org\wb_bangla.htm, is provided by Akhtar Mahmood.

From Dhaka, M. M. Akash, a professor of economics at the Dhaka University writes in a personal letter: "I think the discussion to be useful should focus on two questions or rather three.

1. What are the sources of air pollution in Dhaka city? Which of them are growing particularly at a very fast rate?

2. What public policies or laws we can propose to discourage the proliferation of particularly harmful sources?

3. In the short run how can we create increased awareness of the danger of air pollution for the city people and what measures they should take to minimise their health hazards immediately? I think answers to these questions will be more useful than pondering over technical issues of estimation and comparison."

All three points made above are very pertinent. I would like to come back to them at the end of this summary.

A. HEALTH CONCERNS and SOME IMMEDIATE STEPS

In several postings, Mahbubul Alam stressed that the Government should immediately establish air quality control measures. One of his compelling statement was "When I see a 3-hour measurement of a sample as high as 500 micrograms/cubic meter of particulate pollutants from a monitor near Farmgate area I don't need to second guess about the adverse impact or source of this pollution." (The U.S. primary standard for 24-hour mean for PM-10 is 150 micro-gram/m^3.) Mahbubul Alam states that the severity of Dhaka's air pollution is strongly correlated with the congestion, speed, and stop/go traffic patterns. In the U.S. cost-effective control measures include the integration of urban land use planning with air quality consideration. He suggests congestion mitigation, widening the roads, implementing lane systems, investing in public transport such as light rail, natural gas bus, etc. But according to him the Government should take immediate steps to phase out lead; the cost of "un-leading" the fuel is only 2-5 cents per gallon! Alam informs us that the World Bank, UNDP and UNEP are collaborating with the US EPA to phase out lead by 2005 in a set of priority countries and Bangladesh is not in the list. This has prompted Nurul Kabir to ask question whether Bangladesh Govt. is aware of this fact. Alam has hinted that he was lobbying for Bangladesh. Recent reports from Dhaka, on lead's deadly effect on children, makes this issue very important. We would very much like to know how BEN might be helpful in phasing out lead in Bangladesh.

Mizanur Rahman's letter describing his personal experience with asthma attacks emphasizes the need for curbing air pollution. From his exchange of letters with Mahbubul Alam we came to know that higher level of smog and air pollution might aggravate asthmatic condition. Masud Karim has provided the list of possible health effects from the known pollutants. In my next posting I will try to provide a small table of summary of pollutant sources and human health effects discussed by all the above participants.

B. URBAN PLANNING, MASS TRANSIT and EMISSION CONTROL

Masud Karim has discussed in detail the mass transit initiative. He points out that the basic transport service in a city of 10 million cannot be provided for without a reliable mass transit system. He informs us of a government initiative to design a long-term strategic transport plan (STP) under Dhaka Urban Transport Project (DUTP). The project has two major objectives: I) to improve urban transport services in an economical and environmentally sustainable manner and ii) to strengthen the institutional and policy framework and address long term transport planning issues in greater Dhaka metropolitan area. Karim further informs us that recently GoB has invited proposals from recognized firms to establish elevated rail system for mass transit in Dhaka on build, operate and transfer (BOT) or build, operate and own (BOO) basis. It was Karim's recommendation to GoB to provide a link between the BOT and STP, where STP will be the background study for the BOT project. The cost of the DUTP project is estimated to be $160 million. A description of it can be found in http://worldbank-bangladesh.org/pid_urb_trnspt.htm.

In a December 1998 posting, Karim World Bank officials, who might be on the BEN list, to comment on the strategies, guidelines and health studies already performed under DUTP project.

Karim has also forwarded some data on light duty vehicles (LDV) manufactured in Japan. The emission characteristics of those are much better than autorickshaws and can be considered a serious replacement. However, the question about the price remains. The price range starts from $4000, although there might be some options of buying reconditioned vehicles.

Denis Wright and Zohir Chowdhury have shared their personal experience with Dhaka pollution. Wright, writing from Australia, suggested considering a plan akin to banning piston-driven vehicles in the city centers. Tanveer augmented this with suggestions of a beltway and other infrastructure to move people away from the city centers. Mahbub Alam's counter-argument is that the sub-urbanization creates an increase in the air quality non-attainment area. It is very difficult to create mass transit for such a wide spread area resulting in more vehicles mile traveled and there is a rise in vehicle per capita. The movement now is to revitalize the down town areas increasing the mass transit accessibility within a concentrated population. This creates less dependency on single vehicles. In a following letter Tanveer points out that the U.S. experience may not be applicable to Bangladesh; its not the sub-urbanization, rather the decentralization of the city center with govt. offices and businesses distributed at the city periphery which might happen there.

It is interesting to note that both Saleh Tanveer and Mahbubul Alam are of the opinion that emission inspection is not a feasible option; corruption and bribery can override the intended system. Alam suggests a registration fee based on the model year of a vehicle, older vehicles will be levied more fee. The hope is that these older vehicles, with more emission, will be phased out in this manner.

C. MEASUREMENTS, SAMPLING, MODELING and FUNDING

There are quite a few postings on this subject. Masud Karim has discussed his experience using passive samplers in Dhaka. He states that there are cost-effective and portable samplers that can be used in Bangladesh. A follow up letter from Zohir Chowdhury detailed his desire to conduct a field study in Dhaka. He mentioned the aspects/problems of conducting a successful field study including electricity, public crowding, weather, night operation, instrument malfunctioning, bureaucracy, funding and availability of different instruments at his lab. Masud Karim answering a funding related question from Chowdhury mentions, "My understanding is, if BEN has an established network among expat. researchers and develop networking with GoB, World Bank, UNDP, ADB etc., we might be able to establish a group of researchers from economist to activists in air quality. We then seek funding help from multinational organization for further research."

Regarding modeling Mahbubul Alam informs there are modeling tools available, but because of an inadequate input database refined modeling may not be possible, however a worst case scenario modeling approach is feasible for Dhaka city.

D. POLICY & PUBLIC AWARENESS

A very interesting letter came from Mahmud Farooque. He starts his post stating that "a conceptual understanding of the underlying conflict is necessary for us to design a solution.." Farooque lists different perspectives and conflicts of interest that have played roles in environmental controversies. In one of the perspectives (titled "Mistrust of Experts") he mentions that the general population tends to prefer a more civic participation in the decision making process as they are the ultimate beneficiary or victim of the environmental policy in question. In his second posting, answering questions of Saleh Taveer and mine, he further stresses a complex dynamic approach for the environment rehabilitation instead of a piece-meal approach. It is interesting that he mentions Houston's failure to introduce a light rail system. Masud Karim writes that Dhaka inhabitants spend only 11% of their household expenditure in transport and this may deter private entrepreneurs from investing in a light railway or other mass transit system. Economics does play a role. (Is 11% really a low number?) We expect more public awareness and policy discussion in the later half of the month.

II. WHAT NEXT ?

The following list is only a suggestion, please send in your suggestions to modify:

1. Continue discussion on various aspects of air pollution. But I will also request the participants to consider specifically the questions posed by M. M. Akash that were given at the beginning of this summary. This pertains to most important sources of pollution, public awareness and health precautions, and policy enactments.

2. Whatever has been discussed above can form a part of the total approach for the mitigation of the problem. However, there is always room for activism "now." It seems to me that BEN can provide a very positive contribution to the mitigation of the lead problem. This is at the forefront of news. It would be worthwhile for us to forge close ties with POROSH, BELA and other participants of this study including Ms. Naila Khan of Shishu Bikash Kendra and Amir Khan of DU Chemistry Dept. Should we consider lobbying/writing? Nazrul Islam, currently in Dhaka, will possibly have something to say about this once he returns to the US. Zohir Chowdhury will be in Dhaka in February, he also will be a very good liaison.

3. The question of long term monitoring and sampling is important. This is absolutely essential for air quality control. As BEN can provide a medium for idea exchange; our experts, residents all over the world, might consider coming up with a feasible work strategy and suggesting funding sources.

4. We want to compile a complete list of projects that the Govt. has undertaken to date. These could be transport projects like DUTP. This is essential for public awareness and transparency. Furthermore, this might help us in suggesting more cross-disciplinary projects (or in extreme cases discourage certain projects).

5. Should there be a campaign for National Ambient Air Quality Standards or a Clean Air Act? Is this something that our peers at home should consider?

6. Creating public awareness: Last year, Mizanur Rahman suggested that we consider a publication on behalf of BEN. Will our resident experts consider compiling an anthology in Bengali on air pollution for general reading?

7. We would also like to build a database with names, addresses, telephone, etc. of experts and activists in the field.

8. We would like to hear from other experts/non-experts. Please take part in the discussion. Your input is invaluable.

Regards, Dipen Bhattacharya Moderator, January, 1999