Spatial Distribution and AirQ + -Based Health Risk Analysis of Particulate Matter in Bangladesh’s Industrial Hubs

Rapid urbanisation and population growth in Bangladesh have intensified ambient particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) pollution, posing critical threats to public health. This study assessed PM concentration in three major industrial cities, Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur. PM concentrations were measured using an Air Particle Counter and an optimised air-quality sensor. PM measurements were conducted at 138 sampling points across Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur in October 2023, a climatologically stable late-autumn period, providing a reliable baseline for assessing ambient PM levels. Long-term chronic and acute diseases were quantified using the WHO AirQ + tool, including acute lower respiratory infection (ALRI) in children, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and lung cancer (LC) in adults. The study revealed that the average PM_2.5 concentrations of 74.04, 56.70, and 63.99 µg/m³ exceeded WHO standards in three cities and exceeded BD standards only in Dhaka, while PM₁₀ levels exceeded only WHO standards. A strong correlation was observed between PM_2.5 and PM₁₀. Meteorological analysis indicated that wind speed and direction were key dispersion drivers, whereas temperature and humidity showed weak inverse exponential relationships with PM levels. Hazard Quotient (HQ) derivation revealed significant non-cancer health risks, with values exceeding unity. In contrast, PM_2.5 significantly affected ALRI mortality among children, with rates of 0.52, 0.44, and 0.49 per 100,000 in Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur, respectively. In adults, stroke was the leading PM_2.5-related cause of death, with rates of 9.87, 9.13, and 9.63 per 100,000 in these cities. IHD deaths were also high, while LC and COPD mortality ranged from low to moderate. The study underscores the substantial public health implications of persistent PM pollution across Bangladesh’s industrial cities and reinforces the urgency of implementing coherent regulatory interventions. To strengthen the precision of exposure assessments and support more robust evidence-based policymaking, future investigations should incorporate multi-seasonal sampling, extended temporal monitoring, and broader spatial representation across diverse industrial zones.