Evaluating Particulate Matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) Concentrations in Educational Institutions within South City Corporation, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

Dhaka is widely recognized as the most polluted city in Bangladesh due to its high levels of particulate matters. Most of the educational buildings in Dhaka South City Corporation are situated alongside the main road. The objective of this study is twofold. First and foremostly, it aims to identify the status of air pollution within educational institutions located in the Dhaka South City Corporation. Secondly, it seeks to assess the relationships among different zones and different air quality parameters, specifically focusing on particulate matter levels of PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀. This study was conducted in 37 locations of Dhaka metropolitan, by using Aeroqual s500. This research study is found that the average concentrations of PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ in all the selected places of the study area were 68.82 and 113.95 µg/m³ respectively. The average concentration of particulate matter (PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀) in all the zones had been observed to be more than one times higher than the acceptable level of concentration set by the National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) levels. It had been measured that the average value of PM₂.₅/PM₁₀ was 60.41%. Additionally, the study demonstrated that as the P values are less than 0.05, the concentrations of PM₂.₅ may vary significantly between and among zones. The outcome of this research is arranged in descending order based on the average concentration of PM₂.₅ which follows as Zone-5 (Chak Bazar, Bangshal, Kotwali) > Zone-2 (Dhanmondi) > Zone-6 (Sutrapur, Gendaria, Jatra Bari) > Zone-3 (Ramna, Shahbagh) > Zone-1 (Hazaribagh) > Zone-4 (Lalbagh, New Market) > Zone-7 (Kadamtali).