Poor air quality shortening life expectancy

The life expectancy of an average Bangladeshi is cut short by 6.8 years due to fine particle air pollution, according to a recent piece of news. The report has been composed on the basis of the Air Quality Life Index 2023 prepared by the University of Chicago's Energy Policy Institute. The index quantifies the decrease in life expectancy due to exposure to air pollution in countries around the world. The recently published index states that the quality of Gazipur air is the worst in Bangladesh with 89.8 micrograms per cubic metre. In Dhaka and Chattogram, some 74.7 million residents are on the track to lose 7.6 years of life expectancy on average as per the WHO (World Health Organization) guideline if the current pollution levels persist, according to the index.

Air pollution is the second highest risk factor for non communicable diseases like heart diseases, acute respiratory problems, lung cancers, stroke and more. The factors that are contributing to the declining air qualities are mainly rapid industrialisation and urbanisation. Our development work should keep going but we must remember that it should not come at the cost of our environment. Now what we need is a strong commitment to curb air pollution in the country.

Bangladesh is a densely-populated country. This is an ideal condition for respiratory diseases. So, we should motivate the people and make them more conscious about air pollution. Whatever we do, we must keep environment as our top priority so that it does not degrade. We have to convince everyone that if we uphold our commitment, the air quality in the country will improve one day. We should bring down the use of fossil fuel that contributes highly to the air pollution. We should also take a pragmatic green policy where social activists and politicians would come forward with their sincere efforts. The Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) can play a major role in this regard.

Md. Refatul Hossain,

Additional Director (rtd),

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), Faridpur,

rifatulhossain@gmail.com