ME 413: Energy and Environment Lecture: 11

Environmental Effects
of Energy Use

Dr. Md. Ashiqur Rahman

Associate Professor, ME, BUET
1
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Bangladesh

2
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Bangladesh

o The air quality in Dhaka has consistently been unhealthy during the
dry season, according to the Department of Environment (DoE).

o On February 17, 2014,

Dhaka’s air quality was
measured 172 AQI which is
considered unhealthy.

o On January 25, 2017 it was

measured 361 AQI, that is
extremely unhealthy.

[Dhaka Tribune, January 30, 2018] 3

ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Bangladesh

(“Dhaka air pollution: Facts, measures and commandments”, The Daily Star, February
03, 2017) 4
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Bangladesh

[The Daily Star, May 02, 2018]

5
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Bangladesh

6
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Dhaka

Environmental Performance Index for Air Quality:

7
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Dhaka

Environmental Performance Index for Air Quality:

8
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Air Quality in Bangladesh

9
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Common Air Pollutants

Criteria Pollutant:

The term “criteria air pollutants” originated with the US

Clean Air Act, 1970.

That law required the EPA to set standards to protect

human health and welfare from hazardous air pollutants
in ambient air.

Before setting standards, the EPA had to identify the most

serious pollutants. To do so, it used criteria (characteristics
of pollutants, and their potential health and welfare effects).

Criteria Pollutant: Six pollutants for which ambient air standards

are set to protect human health and welfare
10
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Common Air Pollutants

Criteria Pollutant:

 Carbon monoxide (CO)

 Nitrogen dioxide (NO2)

 Particulate matter (PM or SPM)

 Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

 Ground-Level Ozone (O3)

 Lead (Pb)

Lead (Pb), the sixth criteria pollutant, was included at a time when
it was emitted in especially risky amounts.
11
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Classification of Air Pollutants

Natural Pollutants: Due to volcanic activity, sand/dust blown by
wind.

Anthropogenic Pollutants: Produced by humans or controlled

processes

12
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Classification of Air Pollutants

Primary Pollutants: Primary pollutants
are those that are emitted directly into
the atmosphere from an identifiable
source [CO, SO2, NO2, CO2, VOC,
Particulate matters (PM), etc.]

Secondary Pollutants: Secondary

pollutants are those that are produced
in the atmosphere by chemical and
physical processes from primary
pollutants and natural constituents
(Smog, Ozone, etc.)

13
ME 413: Energy and Environment

Amount and Sources of Air Pollutants

Percent of total emissions of air

pollutants, Canada (2002)

14