Predictive model for air pollutants applied to North Dhaka brick kiln cluster

Abstract

The presence of a large number of brick kilns and other polluting industries in and around the Dhaka city contributes to the air pollution resulting in poor quality of air. Pollution load at Dhaka city due to North Dhaka Brick Kiln Cluster can be quantified by using Industrial Source Complex (ISC3) model and the main objective of the present work was to estimate the model prediction by comparing modeled data with actual emission data in several receptor points. Only total suspended particulate matters from brick kilns were considered for the stated purpose. The study area was a rectang\llar grid of 60 km by 60 km which includes 530 brick kilns located on the northern part of Dhaka city. Particulate emission data was collected from December 2007 to March 2008 at twenty different • locations considering three different location types, The entire model run was done using meteorological data file of December 2003 to March 2004 with the consideration that the average meteorological condition remains unchanged for a particular period of time. Model prediction varies widely from 8% to 97% but it shows significant results in accordance with the location type of receptor points. For the receptor points which are at the vicinity of the brick kiln Clusters model can predict 68% to 86% ofthe actual scenario. But the model prediction is low at receptor points which are at commercial zone and it ranges from 8% to 17%. In brief, Industrial Source Complex (ISC3) was found to predict pollution load satisfactorily at the vicinity of brick kiln clusters.