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Long-term steps needed to protect environment

5 || risingbd.com

Published: 13:00, 24 October 2017   Update: 15:18, 26 July 2020
Long-term steps needed to protect environment

Worldwide pollution is a serious problem. Countries in the world are facing problems due to various pollutions. Air pollution is increasing alarmingly specially in different cities of the world. Bangladesh is no exception in this regard. World's leading independent general medical journal The Lancet revealed a report regarding pollution on Friday last (October 20). According to the UK-based journal, the level of pollution is comparatively higher in low-income and middle-income countries. The number of deaths is increasing at an alarming rate across the world due to pollution-related diseases.

In a major new study, the Lancet journal has revealed that pollution-related diseases were responsible for an estimated 9 million premature deaths in 2015, or some 15 times more than from all wars and other forms of violence combined. In the most severely affected countries, the Lancet report states, “pollution-related disease is responsible for more than one death in four.”

Pollution is not only the largest environmental cause of disease and premature death in the world today, the study in the prestigious UK-based journal found, but diseases caused by pollution were responsible for roughly 16 percent of all deaths worldwide—“three times more deaths than from AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria combined and 15 times more than from all wars and other forms of violence.”

Pollution, on the other hand, “disproportionately kills the poor and the vulnerable,” the Lancet study found. “Nearly 92% of pollution-related deaths occur in low-income and middle-income countries and, in countries at every income level, disease caused by pollution is most prevalent among minorities and the marginalised.”

Not only does environmental pollution disproportionately target the poor, it also targets the young.

“Children are at high risk of pollution-related disease and even extremely low-dose exposures to pollutants during windows of vulnerability in utero and in early infancy can result in disease, disability, and death in childhood and across their lifespan,” the study revealed.

The real tragedy, therefore, is not the immense devastation wrought by pollution, but the willingness of the powerful of the world to ignore it in favor of an ideologically driven crusade against “global warming.”

“Despite its substantial effects on human health, the economy, and the environment, pollution has been neglected, especially in low-income and middle-income countries, and the health effects of pollution are under-estimated in calculations of the global burden of disease,” the Lancet states.

This health damage from pollution “has particularly been overlooked in both the international development and the global health agendas,” the report continues.

Really, we observe that the air pollution is increasing at an alarming rate across the country including the capital Dhaka. In the country, a good number of people die due to air pollution every year. Death rate in heart attacks, strokes and lung cancers has increased in recent time in the country due to air pollution. Environment is being polluted by industrial wastes, medical wastes, animal wastes and other wastes. Medical experts say people are suffering from heart attacks, diabetes, gastric, even in liver cirrhosis or liver cancer due to sound pollution.

Experts say air, water and sound pollution have become a common affair at present time which has a negative impact on biodiversity. Adverse impacts of climate change are also falling on environment. Bangladesh has lagged far behind in terms of pollution and environment in an era last which has reported in the journal. But it is a matter of sorrow that authorities concerned are not seen to take any step to stop the growing pollution.

The hearing capacity of half of people in the capital Dhaka will be reduced up to 30 decibel by 2017 the way sound and air pollution are increasing in the city. Sound pollution is responsible for various problems in eye and head. Recently the court has banned the use of hydraulic horns but it seems that the use of the horns is not declining remarkably. For this, we think the authorities concerned should take proper steps in this regard and ensure strict punishment for those violating laws.

It seems the capital Dhaka has turned into a dustbin as city dwellers are seen to dump garbage here and there. In an initiative taken by two city corporations in Dhaka, a good number of permanent sheds have been set up for dumping garbage. Again, Bins (mini boxes) have been set up near the roads to dump trashes. But it cannot be said that the situation is improving. Thieves have stolen them at many places.

Long-term steps should be taken to prevent air pollution and protect environment. Urgent steps should be taken to stop the sources that pollute air. Side by side, effective work plan to prevent other pollutions should be taken. Due to water pollution, a good number of people die also every year. Crisis of pure drinking water is mounting at an alarming rate across the country. So, immediate steps should be taken for the prevention of the water pollution. All rivers including Buriganga River should be kept free of pollution. Otherwise, public health will face a major threat.

Pollution is a problem that can be addressed and defeated. The big question is why environmental activists and the mainstream media insist on looking the other way.

risingbd/Dhaka/Oct 24, 2017/Ali Nowsher/Amirul

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