Use of generators
I would like to draw your attention to widespread use of diesel run generators in the residential areas which has added and is adding new sources of air pollution in areas where most people spend most of their time.
In the popular media we are occasionally informed about the horrible health impact of air pollution in Dhaka. Of course this is not new knowledge. We have known for a long time that air pollution caused by diesel exhaust causes serious respiratory ailments and cancer. Many years ago two stroke three wheelers were pushed out of Dhaka and that resulted in quick improvement in air quality. Time has now come to ban use of generators in residential areas.
Diesel emissions are one of the worst air pollutants and contain visible and invisible gases. The visible gas is elemental carbon and the smell comes from a group of particles called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, well-known cancer causing agents. In addition it contains poisonous gases such as nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide. Another component of diesel exhaust is Formaldehyde which in experiments has caused tumours in animals in laboratory.
Diesel exhaust also contains microscopic solid particles large part of which measures less than a micron in size and once inhaled can lodge deep in the lungs and stay there indefinitely resulting in chronic illness.
How serious is the threat from generator exhaust in residential areas? We need to consider density, quality and placement of these machines. In the area I reside I have counted 8 generators in 9 houses in an area of about 3 bighas. ( I have considered one house in front, rear, left and right each on a five katha plot; and this is typical concentration of generators in whole residential area).
Most of these generators are horribly noisy and owners do not spend money on noise suppressing devices. Some are old and have been bought from ship breaking yards. Exhaust is released on the streets without any consideration for their impact on people on the street and in the surrounding houses.
During hour long load shedding periods these 8 generators spew out gas that results from burning 8x3=24 litres of diesel. On a typical summer day we experience 3-4 such outages that exposes us to roughly 80-100 litres of burnt diesel. In 80% of the cases home owners perch themselves in one of the top floors and enjoy the electricity leaving others exposed to exhaust fumes and deafening noise.
We also need to consider the impact of indoor air pollution that makes every home into a killer gas chamber exposing babies, older people, convalescing patients and housewives who would generally not go out to avoid exposure to this hazard. Diesel exhaust cannot be shut out by closing windows and lingers in the house for hours after the generators have been shut.
I do not know what will be the long term health impact of all these on me and my neighbours But in these quiet spring days I am unable to shed from my mind the dreadful prospect of encountering load shedding in the coming summer months.
May I therefore request the concerned authorities to examine the health impact of such exposure and take steps to curb the use of generators in residential areas when better alternatives like IPS etc. are readily available.
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