Author(s)

Sharmishtha Roy, Nazia Hassan, Kazi Benazir Haider

Environmental Science Discipline, Life Science School, Khulna University, Khulna, Bangladesh.

The study measured the concentration of coarse particulate matter (PM₁₀) in the ambient air of Bangladesh Small and Cottage Industries Corporation (BSCIC) Bagerhat in order to evaluate its impact on workers’ health. 14 known-volume air samples were obtained through Envirotech APM 541 PM10 Particulate Sampler. The short-term (6 hours) samples were taken from 9 industrial units in the winter season of October, 2015 to January, 2016. Simple gravimetric analysis showed large variations in concentrations in distinct industrial units. The minimum concentration was found 33.61 μ/m³ in the outdoor premises of a coconut oil mill and the maximum was found 471.38 μ/m³ in the house of a rice mill. The pollutant sources were detected as cabinless husking machines and soot from boilers and fryers. A questionnaire survey was conducted to evaluate the mostly occurring symptoms of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Diseases (COPD) and bronchoconstriction among workers. The highest prevalence of symptoms of bronchoconstriction (OR = 7.1; 95% CI = 2.3 - 21.9) was found among workers in rice mills and eye disturbances (OR = 2.7; 95% CI = 0.9 - 8.6) had the highest prevalence in coconut mills. Monitoring of air quality, providing personal respiratory prevention and improvement in machineries were required in the study area for a healthy environment.

PM₁₀, BSCIC, Health Impact, Odds Ratio

Roy, S. , Hassan, N. and Haider, K. (2017) Measurement and Impact Assessment of PM₁₀ in Ambient Air of BSCIC Bagerhat. Open Journal of Air Pollution, 6, 93-102. doi: 10.4236/ojap.2017.63008.