Trend of Particulate Matter PM 2.5 and PM 10 in Dhaka City

Abstract

Dhaka City has been affecting with severe air pollution particularly by particulate matter. The ambient air quality data for particulate matter were collected during April 2002 to September 2005 at the Continuous Air Quality Monitoring Station (CAMS) located at Sangshad Bhaban, Dhaka. Data reveal that the pollution from particulate matter greatly varies with climatic condition. While the level comes down the limit value in the monsoon period (April-October), it goes beyond the limit during non-monsoon time (November-March). The latest data show that during monsoon period PM 10 concentration varies from 50 μg/m3 to 80 μg/m3 and PM 2.5 concentration from 20 μg/m3 to 60 μg/m3 and during non monsoon period PM 10 varies from 100 μg/m3 to 250 μg/m3 and PM 2.5 varies from 70 μg/m3 to 165 μg/m3. The seasonal variation clearly indicates the severe PM 10 pollution during the dry winter season and also sometime during post-monsoon season in Dhaka City. Keywords: Air pollution; PM 2.5; PM 10; Air quality DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i3.9049 BJSIR 2011; 46(3): 389-398