Integrating Water Treatment and Air Quality Improvement for a Healthier Bangladesh

Abstract

Bangladesh is among the most densely populated and climate-vulnerable countries in the world, where water quality degradation and air pollution are having a profound impact on public health. This study presents an integrated environmental management framework, which proposes the implementation of water and air quality improvement initiatives in harmony with the socio-economic realities of the country. Lab-based water and air quality testing, health impact assessment and GIS-based mapping have been completed under the mixed-methods approach. The results showed that the maximum arsenic level in the groundwater was 0.08 mg/L, which is much above the WHO standard (0.01 mg/L). Microbiological contamination in water (20–50 CFU/100 ml) is a health hazard in both urban and rural areas. In terms of air pollution, the concentration of PM₂.₅ in Dhaka is 120–180 µg/m³, which is 5–7 times higher than the WHO standard, and PM₂.₅ reaches an average of 350 µg/m³ in rural kitchens. The health assessment showed a 30% reduction in child diarrhea in households using water purification systems and a 25% reduction in respiratory diseases in households using improved cookstoves. Most importantly, where concerted action to improve water and air quality has been taken together, improvements in public health have been seen significantly. In conclusion, isolated initiatives to improve water or air quality are not sufficient. Integrated environmental management through policy reforms, technical interventions and community-based participation is essential to achieve effective results, which can be a viable model not only for Bangladesh but also for other developing countries.