New Year celebrations caused severe air, sound pollution: Study

Air pollution rose by 35 per cent and sound pollution by 42 per cent during the night hours of the New Year celebrations this year, according to a study.

On the eve of the New Year 2024, the intensity of air pollution between 12am and 1:00am increased by about 64 micrograms, representing a 35 per cent rise compared to the levels recorded between 11pm and 12am on Sunday, which is considered very unhealthy in terms of healthy air quality index, the Center for Atmospheric Pollution Studies (CAPS) said in its study on Monday. A CAPS research team, led by Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder, has been monitoring the intensity of air and noise pollution during the English New Year celebrations for seven years since 2017.

Firecrackers or similar noise-making materials are usually made of chemicals that can cause a variety of respiratory problems, including asthma, bronchitis and lung cancer, according to the study.

The study found that fireworks and crackers were set off from 11.30pm to 5:00am during this year’s New Year celebrations.

In the first hour of 2024, the noise pollution rate surged by about 42 per cent compared to the previous day (December 30), and most of the time the noise level hovered between 80 and 90 decibels, according to the CAPS study. 

Noise of more than 70 decibels can cause deafness in animals and birds, including humans, and this noise also increases the risk of miscarriage, infant mortality and heart disease among the elderly.

The loud noise of the New Year celebrations resulted in birds flying around and crashing into trees or building walls, causing injuries and even death, CAPS said.

Analysing the data for the last 7 years from 2017 to 2024, it was seen that the air quality index increased from a minimum of 6 per cent to a maximum of 66 per cent from December 31 to January 1, and at the same time, Dhaka's air quality index (AQI) has been very unhealthy (201 to 300) and extremely unhealthy (301 to 500) stayed in the state.

On the New Year's Day in 2023, air pollution in the hour between 12am and 1:00am increased by about 91 micrograms, representing a 36 per cent rise compared the levels recorded between 11pm and 12am on the same day.

Between December 30 at 11:00pm and December 31 at 1:00am, the average sound level (Leq) in Dhaka North and South City Corporation areas ranged from 48 to 70 decibels.

But the noise level on December 31 at 12:00 am immediately went from an average minimum of 85 decibels to an average maximum of 110 decibels or more.

In the last seven years, from December 31 at 11:00pm to January 1 at 1.00am, the noise level exceeded 70 decibels on average 90 per cent of the time, which is very harmful to human health.

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