1. M. Jamaluddin Ahmed and Md. Khorshed Ali
ASSESSMENT OF GASEOUS POLLUTANTS, PARTICULATE MATTERS AND TRACE METALS IN AIR OF CHITTAGONG CITY.
M. Jamaluddin Ahmed and
Md. Khorshed Ali
Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Dept. of Chemistry, University of Chittagong , Chittagong-4331.

2. Presentation Outline Aims and Objectives of the study
Effects of Pollutants
Methodology used
Study area
Location of the study area
Study period
Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
Results
Discussions
Conclusions
Recommendations
Acknowledgements

3. Background of the study
Air pollution is one of the major environmental problems in Bangladesh. Air pollution in the urban areas become severe as caused by the mobile sources and the stationary sources. Like many other magacities in the world the ambient air quality of Chittagong is also being deterioted day by day. Considering the severity of the problem the current study plan was undertaken to measure the gaseous pollutants level in the air, and also study the extent of trace metal content in the atmospheric particulate matters in different urban locations of Chittagong, second largest city of Bangladesh.
Chittagong city is not only the principal city of the district of Chittagong but also the second largest city of Bangladesh. It is situated within 22°-14´ and 22°-24´-30´´ N latitude and between 91°-46´ and 91°-53´ E longitude and on the right bank of the river Karnafuli. The main seaport of Bangladesh is located at the estuary of the Karnafuli river. Chittagong is also called the commercial capital of Bangladesh.

4. Background of the study
Figure 1. Congestion, poor management, inefficient road use, mixed traffic and other
major sources of air pollution in Chittagong city.

5. Aims and Objectives of the study
1. to measure the degree of atmospheric gaseous pollutants e.g. sulfur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) in air of Chittagong city.
2. to determine the extent of atmospheric particulate matters e.g. PM2.5, PM10, and SPM in air of Chittagong city.
3. to determine of the toxic and heavy metal concentrations in the atmospheric particulate matters in the air of Chittagong city.
4. to compare the current data with previous national and international standards.
5. to identify the sources and character of the air pollutants in the air of Chittagong city.
6. to identify the cause of the health effects due to air pollutants.

6. Aims and Objectives of the study
7. to identify the high-risk and low-risk zones in terms of air pollution in the mentioned areas in Chittagong city.
8. to increase the awareness of the people against the effects and remedies of the air pollutants.
9. to suggest the government, non government and public agencies to make awareness among the people who are supposed to be under great threat of various air pollutants.
10. to assess the controlling options, their feasibility and their costs.
11. to determine the contributions from the various sources and source categories, using dispersion and receptor models.
12. to propose some strategic plan for less-emission from the sources.
13. to propose some strategic and city planning for additional urbanization of the localities.

7. Effects of Pollutants Effects of Nitrogen dioxides NOx
The most harmful effects of NOx on human are as follows:-
NO a toxic gas and an air pollutant, is also found in the human body. Like CO,it also forms bond with haemoglobin & reduces oxygen carrying capacity.
NO2 being most toxic is also known to be transformed in the lungs to nitrosamines which are carcinogenic. Higher concentration of NO2 causes bronchitis & respiratory problems.
Cigarette smokes readily develop lung disease as the cigarettes contain ppm of NOx. Higher level of NOx cause gum inflammation, internal bleeding, pneumonia, oxygen deficiency & lung cancer etc.
Toxic Effects of Sulfur dioxides (SOX)
The major health concerns associated with exposure to high concentrations of SO2 include effects on breathing, respiratory illness, alterations in pulmonary defenses, and aggravation of existing cardiovascular disease.
SO2 contributes to respiratory illness, particularly in children and the elderly, and aggravates existing heart and lung diseases.

8. METHODS AND MATERIALS
START
Literature survey & planning
Data collection
Field data
Existing data
Air sample collection
Laboratory analysis
Data Organization,
Processing & Presentation
Interpretation &
Reporting
STOP
A flow chart for the methodology of the present study

9. Methodology Used
Sampling impinger for the respective gases was used to sample the atmospheric gaseous contents.
High Volume Air Sampler in the selected areas from morning to evening (8 hours) was placed for the purpose. Respirable dust sampler was used for the collection of atmospheric particulate matters.
Using particulate matter sampler, millipore filters was employed to segregate PM2.5 samples while glass fiber filters was used for PM10 collection. Particulate matters were measured gravimetrically with digital OHAUS modern balance.
UV/VIS-spectrophotometric technique was adopted for the determination of SOx and NOx content.
Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) technique was used to determine the content of trace and heavy metals e.g. Cu, Pb, Mn, Co, Zn, Cd after acid (HClO4 and HNO3) digestion of atmospheric particulate matters at 200°C for four hours.

10. Study area ► New Market, ► Bahaddarhat, ► Nasirabad (2 No. Gate),
There are five important sampling locations in Chittagong city had been chosen for the collection of the air sample. These are
► New Market,
► Bahaddarhat,
► Nasirabad (2 No. Gate),
► G.E.C Circle and
► Director’s office.
From these above locations Bahaddarhat was the highly traffic area and Director’s office was the less traffic area. But other sampling locations are also more or less traffic. The all sampling operation was carried out from morning to evening for eight hours. Weather conditions are very sunny in all sampling locations.

11. Study area
LOCATION
Map of Chittagong city showing the location of study area

12. Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
A high volume sampler equipped with an impringer was used for the collection of NO2 samples. The impringer contained 20 mL sodium solution as absorbing solutions. When the high volume sampler was started then this absorbing reagent started to absorb the NO2 samples. After completing the eight hours sampling the solution were taken into the laboratory for the measurement of the concentration of NO2in air.
A high volume sampler equipped with an impringer was used for the collection of SO2 samples. The impringer contained 20-mL tetrachloromercurate solution as absorbing solutions. When the high volume sampler was started then this absorbing reagent started to absorb the SO2 samples. After completing the eight hours sampling the solution were taken into the laboratory for the measurement of the concentration of SO2 in air.

13. Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
Plate-1. Sampling with High Volume Air Sampler at New Market Moor
(Chittagong city).

14. Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
Plate-2. Sampling with High Volume Air Sampler at Bahaddarhat Moor
(Chittagong city).

15. Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
Plate-3. Sampling with High Volume Air Sampler at G.E.C Circle
(Chittagong city).

16. Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
Plate-4. Sampling with High Volume Air Sampler at Nasirabad 2 No. Gate
(Chittagong city).

17. Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
Plate-5. Sample prepared for Heavy Metal Analysis (Acid digestion) at
Laboratory of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry Research,
Dept. of Chemistry, University of Chittagong.

18. Sample Collection and Preparation for Analyses
Plate-6. Atomic absorption spectrometer for heavy metal analysis at
Dhaka BCSIR.

19. Results
The suspended Particulate matters were measured in different traffic locations in ambient air of Chittagong city. The average concentration of suspended particulate matter was found µgm-3 for all sampling locations in Chittagong city which was higher than the daily average given by WHO.
The highest concentration of SPM was found in highly traffic area Bahaddarhat. The SPM concentrations were varying from µgm-3 Bahaddarhat locations to µgm-3 Director’s office . The concentration of SPM in all sampling station in Chittagong city is higher than the DoE value. The concentration of suspended particulate matter in Chittagong city air has shown in Table 1.
The variation of SPM concentrations has been shown in Figure 2.

20. Results
In both cases the concentration of SO2 and NO2 were found lower with comparing the annual standard value of DoE (100µgm-3), Bangladesh and WHO Guideline values in 24 hours average time Table 5. The concentration of the gaseous pollutants NO2 at different locations in Chittagong city has been shown in the Table 1. The variation of concentrations of NO2 at different locations in Chittagong city also shown in Figure 3. The concentration of the gaseous pollutants SO2 at different locations in Chittagong city has been shown in the Table 1. The variation of concentrations of SO2 at different locations in Chittagong city also shown in Figure 4.

21. Results
Table .1. The SPM, NO2 & SO2 concentrations of different locations in Chittagong city. (All units were in µgm-3)
Sampling Date
Location
Concentration of SPM(µgm-3)
Concentration of NO2 (µgm-3)
Concentration of SO2(µgm-3)
New market
28.82
55.67
42.18
65.75
Average
35.50
60.71
Bahaddarhat
59.24
90.35
47.32
70.27
53.28
80.31
Nasirabad
20.98
66.42
28.38
36.48
24.68
51.45
G.E.C Circle
22.60
48.99
37.82
29.83
30.21
39.41
Director’s office
10.29
29.41
566.04
21.59
35.49
750.38
15.94
32.45
658.21

22. Results
Table .2. The trace metal (Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, Cu & Co) concentrations of different locations in Chittagong city. (All units were in µgm-3)
Sl No.
Sampling
Date
Location Pb
(µgm-3) Zn Cd Mn Cu Co 1
05/10/2008
Newmarket
0.53
221.37
0.021
0.813
2.04
<0.01 2
02/11/2008
0.96
437.84
0.028
1.090
2.36
Average
0.74
329.60
0.024
0.951
2.20 3
12/10/2008
Bahaddarhat
0.65
368.62
0.837
4.44 4
09/11/2008
0.19
338.11
0.015
0.555
3.46
0.42
353.36
0.018
0.696
3.95 5
18/10/2008
Nasirabad
0.46
412.76
1.553
4.36 6
15/11/2008
0.14
403.99
0.016
0.654
5.62
0.30
408.34
0.017
1.103
4.99 7
21/10/2008
G.E.C Circle
0.15
412.80
0.721
8.88 8
23/11/2008
0.17
376.97
0.372
5.60
0.16
394.88
0.0165
0.5465
14.48 9
3010/2008
Director’s office
0.44
393.34
0.019
0.744
8.92 10
2911/2008
0.66
437.43
0.023
0.747
16.46
0.55
0.745
12.69

23. Concentration of PM2.5 (µgm-3)
Results
Table 3. The monthly average (24 hours) concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 in µgm-3 at Continuous Air Monitoring Station (CAMS), Chittagong .
Sl. No.
Month
Concentration of PM2.5 (µgm-3)
Concentration of
PM10 (µgm-3) 1
September, 08 2
October, 08 3
November, 08

24. Vehicles Flow (per- hour)
Results
Table 4. The average vehicles flow data (per hour) during the sampling period in different locations in Chittagong city.
Sl. No.
Sampling Location
Sampling Date
Vehicles Flow (per- hour)
CNG (Auto)
Bus
Car 01
New market
12/10/2008
636
306
168 02
Bahaddarhat
18/10/2008
912
426
438 03
Nasirabad
09/11/2008
532
324
211 04
G.E.C Circle
15/11/2008
655
296
311 05
Director’s office
29/11/2008
294
301
252

25. Current Research (µgm-3)
Results
Table 5. The Comparison of gaseous pollutants with standard data set. (all units are in µgm-3).
Pollutants
Period
WHO (µgm-3­)
DoE (µgm-3)
Current Research (µgm-3)
Bahaddarhat
Newmarket
Nasirabad
G.E.C
Circle
Direct-or’s
Office.
SO2
8 hrs
125
150
53.28
35.50
24.68
30.21
15.94
NO2
120
100
80.31
60.71
51.45
39.41
32.45
SPM
500
200
658.21

26. Results
Table 6. Comparison of concentration of PM2.5 and PM10 with standard data set. (all units were in µgm-3).
Pollutants
Period
WHO
 ( µgm-3)
DoE
( µgm-3)
Current Research ( µgm-3)
Continuous air monitoring Station (CAMS), Chittagong.
PM2.5
24 hrs 25 65
28.90
PM10 50
150
46.06

27. Results
SPM
Figure 2. Variation of average concentration (µgm-3) of SPM at the different locations in Chittagong city.

28. Results
NO2
Figure 3. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of NO2 in air of
Chittagong city.

29. Results
SO2
Figure 4. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of SO2 in air of
Chittagong city.

30. Results
PM2.5
Figure 5. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of PM2.5 in CAMS and Agrabad, Chittagong in different months of 2009.

31. Results
PM10
Figure 6. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of PM10 in CAMS and Agrabad, Chittagong in different months of 2009.

32. Results Pb
Figure 7. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of trace metal Pb in air of Chittagong city.

33. Results Cd
Figure 8. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of trace metal Cd in air of Chittagong city.

34. Results Mn
Figure 9. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of trace metal Mn in air of Chittagong city.

35. Results Cu
Figure 10. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of trace metal Cu in air of Chittagong city.

36. Results Zn
Figure 11. The variation of average concentrations (µgm-3) of trace metal Zn in air of Chittagong city.

37. Discussions
Concentration of gaseous pollutants was found more at highly traffic areas. From the above results the highest concentration value of SO2, NO2 and SPM was observed in highly traffic area at Bahaddarhat.
Lowest concentration value was found in less traffic area at Director's Office. The average results of gaseous pollutants, particulate matters and trace metals have been compared to national and international standards.
Value of SPM in air of Chittagong city is 8 times higher than that of TLV value recommended by WHO and 12 times higher than the DoE standards.
Elemental concentrations (eg. Zn, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cu, etc) of ambient air that collected at different locations in Chittagong city is exceeded the threshold limit values and as a result the air of Chittagong city is highly polluted.
Therefore, it is suggested that Government of Bangladesh should take proper steps to control the air pollution of Chittagong city and should be modified the existing national environmental policy.

38. Conclusions
From the results of the different locations of Chittagong city it was revealed that the air pollution of Chittagong city is increasing day by day which is alarming for public health.
Motor vehicles, especially two-stroke engine vehicles are an increasingly important source of air pollution emissions in Chittagong. Further understanding of the sources of air pollution, the contribution of vehicles to air pollution emissions, and the characteristics of vehicular emission control measures is necessary to design a cost effective action plan.
It is recommended that government will undertake actual measurement of emission factors, complete the emission inventory, and conduct an investigation on emission control measures.

39. Recommendations
Some recommendations are given for controlling the severe air pollution situation in air of Chittagong city:
All types of 20 years old diesel vehicles should be banned in Chittagong
city within 2010.
CNG filling station should be increased.
Only covered van type trucks may be allowed to run in Chittagong city areas.
Strict enforcement of environment of laws should be applied for motor vehicles.
Air quality monitoring network should be increased.
Road management system for diesel vehicles should be imposed.
Road capacity should be increased.
Public awareness should be increased.
Road line regeneration for non motorized vehicles should be separated.
Open burning system in Chittagong city should be stopped.
Vehicle inspection should be increased.
Public awareness should be increased about the high-risk and low-risk
zones in terms of air pollution in the mentioned areas in Chittagong city.

40. Acknowledgements
We are especially indebted to the authorities, Department of Environment, Government of Bangladesh, Chittagong for their generous help during the collection of air samples and analyses. We are highly grateful to the authorities, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research Laboratories, Dhaka for their generous help and permit me for using atomic absorption spectrophotometer.

41. Thanks