*Corresponding Author (paul.alak@cu.ac.bd)
Citation: Khan, M.A.U. and Paul, A., 2021. Brick Kiln’s Green House Gas (GHG) emission and public
Brick Kiln’s Green House Gas (GHG) Emission and Public Health Perspectives: A Study in Chattogram, Bangladesh
Mohammad Alim Ullah Khan1 and Alak Paul2*
1Postgraduate Research Student, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chittagong, Chattogram-4331, Bangladesh.
2Professor, Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Chittagong, Chattogram- 4331, Bangladesh.
(Received: 27 February 2021, Revised: 24 May 2021, Accepted: 5 June 2021, Online: 30 June 2021)
Abstract
Bangladesh is now facing a flourish in the real estate sector and rapid urbanization within a few decades that stimulate the brick industry. However, these industries, growing haphazardly adjacent to the city areas, use the traditional brick-making system that destroys the forest resources and releases a high volume of toxic gasses to their neighbourhood environment. The hazy skies of the major cities point to the alarming situation of the environment. The study was conducted to determine the actual condition of present brickfields in the periphery of the Chittagong city area, using the IPCC formula to estimate the greenhouse gasses of the brickfields. Approximately 780 tons of coals are used in a single brickfield every year, producing 393.8 tons of Carbon (C), 1443.9 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), 6.3 tons of methane (CH4), 55.13 tons of carbon mono- oxide (CO), 0.09 tons of Nitrous oxide (N2O), 1.02 tons of Nitric oxide (NO) annually found after analysing from the emission factors and volume of the elements for the production. The scenario is overwhelming for the selected brickfields in the periphery of Chittagong city. The questionnaire survey of the selected members living at or near brickfield areas revealed that most respondents were suffering from various air and water- borne diseases like eye irritation, skin diseases, respiratory problems.
Keywords: Brickfields, GHGs Emission, IPCC, Public Health, Chittagong.
Introduction
Brick making, contributing about one percent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) (BUET, 2007), is a significant sector in Bangladesh that supports urbanization. Rapid urbanization in the country has created a booming construction industry and spurred 8.6 billion bricks each year, the growing demand for the bricks rising at an annual rate of about 5.28 percent (UNDP, 2011).
According to the Department of Environment (DoE), there are 7,707 brick kilns in the country, including 366 in the Barisal division, 1,529 in the Chattogram, 256 in the Sylhet, 2,295 in the Dhaka, 873 in the Khulna and 1,176 in the Rajshahi division (The Daily Star, 2019). Brick kilns have short-term and long-term impacts on the environment. Hampering normal vegetation process, reducing crop production, deforestation etc. are short term effects, while long-term impacts include ozone layer depletion, global warming, green-house effect and reduction in land fertility etc.
(Pokhrel and Lee, 2011). Approximately 190 million metric tons of Green House Gas (GHG) are
emitted in Bangladesh, which comprises 0.40% of the world total GHG emission (WRI, 2017).
Brick kilns are the top air polluter in seven major cities in the country, particularly during the dry season when most bricks are made, turning the air quality of these metropolises “severely unhealthy” (The Daily Star, 2019). The usage of huge amounts of coal in brick donates meaningfully to releases of carbon dioxide (CO2), particulate matter containing black Carbon, sulfur dioxide (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), etc. (Chindaprasirt and Pimraksa, 2008). A recent study has figured out that estimated total emissions for 1000 brick kilns in the greater Dhaka region are found to be 4526 t of PM2.5, 340 t of Black Carbon, 209,776 t of CO2, 8700 t of CO, 19,441 t of SO2, and 835,450 t of VOC per year (Haque et al., 2018). The earlier study suggested that estimated emissions from 1000 brick kilns in the greater Dhaka region were 23,300 t of PM2.5, 15,500 t of SO2, 302,000 t of CO, 6000 t of BC, and 1.8 million tons of CO2 per year (Begum et al., 2011; Guttikunda et al., 2013). All the brick kiln operations, right from digging the earth to unloading fired bricks from the kiln, are accompanied by dust generation, leaving the neighbourhood and workplace dusty (Skinder et al., 2014). The brick kilns emit toxic fumes containing carbon monoxides, and oxides of sulphur (SOx) are harmful to the eyes, lungs and throat.
These air pollutants inhibit children's mental and physical growth and affect crops and plants in the areas near the brickfields (DoE, 2017). Recent research provides an assessment of air pollutant emission from three commonly used brick-making technologies in Bangladesh. Among three technologies, i.e., FCK, Hoffmann, and Zigzag kilns, the last two show less volume of coal consumption, thus better performance in lower black carbon emission (Ahmed, 2007). Though socially unprofitable, FCK is the most commonly implemented technology in Bangladesh. FCK accounts for more than 90 percent of brick kilns in Bangladesh. The low investment cost and the ability to operate on lowlands explain the FCK‘s dominance in the brick sector (Hossain and Abdullah, 2012). Most of the brick kilns in Bangladesh are poorly designed, which causes incomplete combustion of coals (Guttikunda and Khaliquzzaman, 2014). According to the Department of Environment report (2017), 7000 coal-fired brickfields produce 23 billion bricks annually, consume 5.68 million coals and 3350 million cubic feet of soil, and release 15.67 million tons (approx.) CO2 annually.
Brick kilns in agricultural lands, low quality wooden fuel in the brick kiln, improperly fixed chimneys, and the violation of laws to conserve the environment is leading this sector into a major cause of agricultural productivity decline, pollution of environments and hazards towards human health (Hossain et al. 2019). Mostly fertile topsoil of agricultural land is exploited for making bricks. On average 3-kilogram soil is required to make a brick. 150 billion kg of soil is required to produce 50 billion bricks per annum in Bangladesh (The Daily Star, 2014). On the other hand, according to the Brick Kiln Control (amended) Act-2001, there must be no establishment of brick kilns within a three-kilometre radius of human inhabitation or reserved forest (Miah, 2001). But due to lack of proper monitoring, brickfields have sprung up like mushrooms, and the situation has created a serious threat to the environment and biodiversity, making the people in the neighbouring areas face health hazards and reducing the fertility of farms (Miah, 2001). Chittagong is known as the second capital city of Bangladesh, and the city is surrounded by a huge number of brickfields in its periphery which may cause negative impacts on local environments gradually. Some researchers have documented the greenhouse gas emission, global warming and climate change in Bangladesh (Danesh and Alam, 2002; Begum et al., 2008; Ahmed et al., 1996; Nøst et al., 2015).
However, no significant research was integrated showing both the emission of GHGs from the brickfields and its impact on the nearest neighbourhood, especially public health. The study aims
to find the volume of greenhouse gas emissions from the brickfields and impacts on human health in the periphery of Chittagong City. The specific objectives are: firstly, to understand the level of greenhouse gases emission from the brickfields; Secondly, to explore the factors which are responsible for intensifying the GHGs in the local environment; and finally, to investigate the role of brickfields on people’s health for GHGs emission.
Materials and Methods
Site selection: All brickfields have been chosen within a 500-metre radius to the outside of the periphery of Chittagong city. Study area 1 (Northern zone) has five brickfields, and of those, four are running their operation in full swing. One brickfield has been penalized for breaking the environmental laws and for not maintaining the technologies properly. Study area 2 reflects the Eastern zone of the Chittagong City Corporation. Here, some brickfields are situated on both sides of the Halda River. Study Area 3 comprises the southern part of the Chittagong City Corporation, where no brickfields are located in the city boundary because of restricted establishments like the Airport, Naval Academy, and Chittagong port. However, within the periphery, eight brickfields are standing in a row by the side of the Karnafully river. Study Area 4 is situated in the city's western periphery, located near the heart of the city. The Bay of Bengal and mangrove forest are situated in the western side, and Dhaka-Chittagong Highway is on the eastern side. There are four brickfields in the study area. Among them, three are running their operations, and the other is banned for two years by the magistrate of the Department of Environment, Chittagong.
Collection of Primary Data: Data has been collected from the owner or manager of the 25 brickfields through a Checklist survey for estimating the volume of GHGs emission; questionnaire survey have been conducted on 150 inhabitants (head of the family, senior family members) to understand the impact of brickfields; a few case study (10) has been done on the workers of the brickfields or aged person of the locality for identifying the brickfield’s impact.
GHGs (data) Calculation Procedures: To analyse the volume of GHG emission from brickfields, IPCC provided formula for GHG emission analysis is used (IPCC, 1995; 1997; 2006; UNEP, 1995).
This formula is the easiest method to discuss the enormous volume of emission from the brickfields.
Hence, it is an examined formula, but an error occurred 5%-10% due to combustion deficiency or inappropriate use of technologies (World Bank, 1998).
➢ Fuel Consumption (TJ) × Carbon Emission Factors (25.8 tc/TJ) ×Combustion Efficiency (0.98) × Atomic Weight Ratio (44/12) = CO2 emission
➢ Fuel Consumption (TJ) × Carbon Emission Factors (25.8 tc/TJ) ×Combustion Efficiency (0.98) = Carbon Released
➢ Carbon Released × Emission Ratio (0.060 × 28/12) = Carbon Emission
➢ Carbon Released × Emission Ratio (0.007) × (44/28) × N/C ratio (0.01) = Nitrogen Dioxide (N2O) Emission
➢ Carbon Released × Emission Ratio (0.121) × (46/14) × N/C ratio (0.01) = Nitric-oxide (NO) Emission
Survey data analysis: The data that was collected through questionnaire survey have been analyzed using descriptive statistics. Microsoft Excel has been used to demonstrate charts, graphs and diagrams. All qualitative data have been used as quotations in the text.
Results and Discussion
Allocated areas for brick fields: Each brickfield requires a large open area for its production and commercial purposes. Land requirement for FCK or a Zigzag Kiln is about 2.5 acres, whereas Hoffman or Tunnel Kiln needs about 10 acres because of production capacity. It must be clear that the major portion of the land requirement is for forming and drying (DoE, 2017). This study shows that most brickfields (40%) cover around 3.5 acres of land individually. 44% of brickfields take 4.0 acres or more area to cover their commercial area. It is mentionable that riverside brickfields (Karnafully and Halda) take a large area for commercial purposes.
On the contrary, brickfields located in the North and Western sides take comparatively small land surface volume due to land shortage in the city area. From residential areas closer to brickfields, Kattoli and Pahartoli inhabitants reside close to the brickfields due to rapid urbanization in both areas. Only 8% of brickfields maintain a distance of nearly 1000 meters or 1-kilometre from the residential areas, whereas 40% of brickfields in Chittagong city are located within 100 meters from the locality. As city areas are expanding, some brickfields have become closer to the locality over the period.
Chimney height and operation time: The nature of the emissions triggers the impact of traditional brick kilns from the chimneys during the firing process. Five different technologies are being used in brick kilns in Bangladesh, such as Fixed-Chimney Kiln (FCK), Zigzag, Hybrid Hoffman (HHK), Vertical Shaft Brick Kiln (VSBK) and Tunnel Kiln. Among these kiln technologies, the FCK is the least efficient and most polluting. Most of the existing chimneys in brick kilns in Bangladesh are Fixed Chimney Klin (FCK). According to the owners, once most of those kilns were maintained through BTK technologies. They shifted their technology due to government pressure. However, the FCKs emit large quantities of carbon dioxide and other environmental pollutants into the atmosphere each year, causing a harmful impact on health, agricultural yields and climate (Hossain et al., 2019). This research found that the FCK technologies operate all the brickfield chimneys in Chittagong. These chimneys have to maintain a minimum height from the surface, which is more than the old BTK technologies. Among the 25 brickfields, the majority (80%) brickfields have the chimney height between 120 to 130 feet, whether a few have lower heights covering 75 to 85 feet.
However, bricks are formed annually and sun-dried in a large open area, four to five times the area occupied by the kiln (DoE, 2017). The majority of the country’s brick sector operation is the seasonal dry season of about six months per year (Hossain and Abdullah, 2012). All the brickfields are operated mainly during the dry or winter season, from mid-October to March in full swing. It takes almost 30 to 35 days to make “A Round” (Level of production at a time). All the brickfields try for at least six rounds during this time.
The volume of soil for production: Soil is the main raw material for brick production. All the brickfields need a huge amount of soil to meet their production. The production also depends on the quality, availability and quantity of the soil. Brick kilns are destroying a large land area every year, especially in Bangladesh, where bricks are made by collecting topsoil from agricultural land.
It increased to 5000 ha during the 1998 to 1999 period in different pockets of brickfields (Rahman
and Khan, 2001). Most of the brickfield owners collect soil mostly from nearby agricultural lands and ponds.
Nevertheless, it is not easy to measure the actual volume of soil for brick production. This study found that most of the managerial bodies of the brickfields usually calculate the number of trucks that carried soil for brick production. It is a rough calculation that almost 107,255 m3 soils are needed to produce 360 lakhs bricks in the study area of Mohora and Karnafully. The area Pahartoli zone use about 71,503 cubic meters of soil, and Kattoli uses 50,052 cubic meter soils in a year (Table 1).
Table 1: Volume of soil for the brick production Name of the
Zones
Number of Brickfields
Production of Bricks (Estimated in Lakh)
Soil used in Cubic meter.
Estimated in (‘000)
Mohora 8 360 107.25
Pahartoli 5 240 71.53
Karnafully 8 360 107.25
Kattoli 4 168 50.06
Fuel (coal) consumption: Most of the brick kilns in Bangladesh are poorly designed, which causes incomplete combustion of coals (Ahmed, 2007). This incomplete combustion produces carbon monoxide (CO), which increases the risk for respiratory diseases. An estimated two million tons of low-quality fuel such as coal and firewood are burnt for brick manufacturing. In addition, some brick kilns also use tires and natural gas (Ahmed and Hossain, 2008). Other than these, many brick kilns also use recycled motor oil, diesel, trash, and plastics as fuel. All types of fuel are responsible for the emission of toxic gases. All 25 brickfields situated either in the periphery or in the city area reportedly usually go for at least six rounds in the whole year. They use approximately 120 tons of coal for each round of production. The same features are found in all brickfields during the survey.
It is calculated that annually 5760 tons of coal are used in the brickfields of Mohora and Karnafully, whether 3600 tons and 2880 tons of coal are used in Pahartoli and Kattoli, respectively (Table 2).
Table 2: Coal consumption in the brick fields of the study area Name of the
Site
Number of Brickfields
Number of Round in Each Season
Estimated Coal Used in Per Round (t)
Total Coal Consumption(t)
Mohora 8
6 120
5760
Pahartoli 5 3600
Karnafully 8 5760
Kattoli 4 2880
Different studies opined that coal, natural gas and wood fuels are used in the brickfields during their firing period. However, in this survey, the managerial bodies and the workers reported that they use only coal fuel in their production. They opined almost 16 tons of coal is needed to produce 1 lakh bricks. So, in six rounds, they surely need at least 700 tons of coal fuel to meet their demand.
Sanowarul Islam (60), a senior worker, said that,
I can assure, there is no actual limit of coal in any brickfields. We buy coal from the local markets. Sometimes it (Klin) takes 115 ton or sometimes 130 ton. But, 120 tons are used on average. It depends on the quality and the age of the kiln.
GHG emission: Despite the importance of brick making, the vast majority of kilns use outdated, energy-intensive technologies that severely pollute the environment. In Bangladesh, 92% of the 4,880 (Butler et al. 2004) brickfields emit more Carbon, and these Fixed Chimney Kilns (FCKs) are highly polluting (Imran et al. 2014). Brick making significantly contributes to local air pollution including emission of various harmful gases such as Sulphur Oxides (SOx), Nitrogen Oxides (NOx), Carbon dioxide (CO2) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) and PM10 (Iqbal et al., 2007).
Some researchers estimated that total emissions for 1000 brick kilns in the Greater Dhaka region are found to be 4526 t of PM2.5, 340 t of BC, 209,776 t of CO2, 8700 t of CO, 19,441 t of SO2, and 835,450 t of VOC per year (Haque et al., 2018). In one research, it is found that the maximum carbon emission from brickfield was Chittagong (Imran et al. 2014). Besides dust emission, gases are also emitted from brick kilns. Nature and quantity depend on the raw materials, fuel, burning condition, kiln dimension, the technology used. SO2, CO2, NOx, CO, CH4 and other volatile organic compounds are emitted from brick kilns. As coal is practically the only fuel used in the Chittagong city area for brick firing, one of the major environmental problems in brick manufacturing is the emission from coal burning. The IPCC formula helps calculate the volume of emission from brickfields without considering heavy instruments in the research. There is little chance of data error. Considering the formula of IPCC, we analyze the data that are obtained from the twenty-five brickfields of the study are analyzed below.
Figure 1: Volume of use of fuel (coal) and release of Carbon and CO2 to the atmosphere.
In Mohora (Western part of the city), all running brickfields are currently using 5760 tons of coal which generates approximately 2903 tons of Carbon released directly to the atmosphere and 10713 tons of CO2 released to the troposphere of the atmosphere (Figure 1). The same volume of pollutants is released from all brickfields of Karnafully, locating in the southern periphery of the Chittagong City Corporation area. Both areas and inhabitants are highly vulnerable to greenhouse gas pollution.
The northern periphery emits approximately 6696 tons of CO2 from the five brickfields of Pahartoli zone. The eastern zone effuses about 5356.8 tons of Carbon dioxide from the remaining four brickfields in that study area. This number is embarrassing for the city’s environment. These
Mohora Pahartol Karnafully Kattoli
Fuel (Coal) 5760 3600 5760 2880
Carbon 2903.04 1814.4 2903.04 1451.52
CO2 10713.6 6696.3 10713.6 5356.8
Production (Tons)
brickfields are located either nearby the agricultural fields or by the side of residents, putting the inhabitants in danger. The other gases are also emitting in a subsequent volume keeping the city’s environment in danger. By considering the same Carbon released from the corresponding coal consumption, it is enumerated that from the brickfields of Mohora and Karnafully, 406 tons CO, 0.32 tons N2O and 11.55 tons NO are dispersed, respectively (Table 3).
Table 3: Volume of gaseous particles released from the peripheral brickfields of Chittagong city Zone
Volume of Carbon Released (Tons)
Volume of CO2
Released (Tons)
Volume of N2O Released (Tons)
Volume of NO Released (Tons)
Mohora 2903.04 406.43 0.32 11.55
Pahartoli 1814.4 254.01 0.20 7.22
Karnafully 2903.04 406.43 0.32 11.55
Kattoli 1451.52 203.21 0.16 5.78
In Kattoli, 168 lakhs of bricks production are responsible for releasing 1451 tons of Carbon, 203 tons of CO, 0.16 tons of N2O and 5.78 tons of NO. Pahartoli zone also emits a huge volume of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere. The study calculates that 406.43 tons of CO, 0.20 tons of N20, 7.22 tons of NO is also generated in the Pahartoli area. However, the lack of reliable activity data and emission factors makes it difficult to assess the overall contribution of brick production to local and regional emissions inventories.
Airborne diseases: There is now a large amount of literature on the impact of brick kilns on urban air pollution and the health effects of brick kiln emissions, specifically around respiratory diseases (Shaikh et al., 2012). People who reside within five hundred meters of periphery and work inside brick kilns suffered from various respiratory illnesses (Joshi, 2013). Research by the World Bank in Bangladesh found that brick kilns are responsible for 750 premature deaths every year (World Bank, 2011). However, brickfield workers are forced to accept a subhuman life because of polluted air (Joshi and Dudani, 2008). Exposure to such high levels of pollutants can jeopardize the immunity of the human body, contributing to respiratory disorders like lung cancer, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema (Paul et al., 2019). The brick kilns emit toxic fumes containing carbon monoxides, and oxides of sulphur (SOx) are harmful to the eyes, lungs and throat. These air pollutants inhibit children's mental and physical growth in the areas nearby to brickfields (Hossain and Abdullah, 2012). Brick kilns around Dhaka are the main reason for this worst air quality.
Emissions of PM10 and PM2.5 from the kiln cluster north of Dhaka are responsible for premature deaths annually. Thus, current FCKs are likely to contribute up to 20 percent of total premature deaths in Dhaka due to poor air quality (Hossain and Abdullah, 2012).
People’s health sufferings are getting intensified due to toxic materials in the air in the nearby areas of the brickfields. People from the study areas have been suffering from various types of respiratory and skin problems. This study found that many airborne diseases are very common among the people of the locality. In Mohora (study area 1), the inhabitants are at a very high risk of eye irritation (47.8%). They are also affected by cough, chronic bronchitis, asthma and skin problems.
Asthma is very common in the study area. It is mostly associated with the nearby houses of brickfields. Air quality status was turned into severe pollution during the operation phase of brick kilns and community people (including school children) were exposed to emissions from brick kilns, leading them to ailments of respiratory problems. On the other hand, in study area 2
(Pahartoli), people are highly affected by cough (46.1%) and chronic bronchitis (37.9%). Hills, agricultural lands and settlements surround this study area. Emissions from the brickfields are supposed to a big threat to the inhabitants of those study area. A local small businessman said:
When brickfield runs, we have to cover our faces with cloths or masks because of dust and smell. If you visit our roofs and premises, you can easily notice the ashes, originated from those brickfields. Sometimes it is difficult to take breath. We have to shut our windows all day long during the winter. Children also wear mask or cover their face with hands to prevent the harmful effects of poisonous gasses.
In Kattoli (Study Area 3), respondents (65.2%) are highly affected by cough. Eye infections are much severe in this area. People are moderately affected by chronic bronchitis, asthma and hair fall. In study area 4, people are less vulnerable to chronic air pollution-related diseases. In study area 1, eye irritation and asthma are worthy of remark. Chronic bronchitis, eye irritation has been identified as the most prominent health problem in study area 2. On the contrary, in study area 3 and 4, cough and chronic bronchitis are up to the mark. The current study reveals that coughing, bronchitis and skin paleness are the major unexpected health problems in the forthcoming days.
Water-borne diseases: Brickfields location is an important matter to analyze how much pollution occurred to the human health and their environment. The emission of gaseous pollutants and ash significantly affect human health (Gupta and Narayan, 2010). Some researchers found that villagers living near to traditional kilns feel strongly that there is an association between the brick kilns and human health (Hossain et al., 2019). Studies clearly show that brickfield workers and people in the surrounding community are more likely to suffer from illnesses caused by the kilns’ pollution (Das, 2014; Skinder et al., 2014). The study revealed that many water-borne diseases are very frequent in the city periphery of Chittagong. In study area 1, the inhabitants are at a very high risk of cholera, skin allergy, and skin infection (Table 4). A significant number of people expressed that the prevalence of aforesaid health problems has increased compared to the past. The high risk of these health complications (dysentery, diarrhoea, and skin infection) has made the life of occupants unbearable. Brickfield smokes are getting mixed with the river Halda, and the water is becoming polluted.
Table 4: Types of water-borne diseases that occurred in the respondents’ family Infec-
tion Level
Study area
Cholera Dysentery Diarrhea Skin Allergy
Skin Infection
Skin Paleness
Very High
ST-1 34.6 26.8 18.5 24.0 25.4 2.5
ST-2 25.5 53.8 2.5 20.3 0 3.1
ST-3 40.5 20.4 3.4 40.5 17.6 26.8
ST-4 30.6 25.0 26.8 19.2 23.0 25
High
ST-1 46.1 63.4 60.5 20.0 40.6 22.5
ST-2 65.2 46.2 22.5 15.7 15.2 20.5
ST-3 35.5 66.6 56.6 35.5 70.6 10.8
ST-4 52.1 37.0 9.8 34.6 13.4 15
Moderate
ST-1 19.2 9.8 11.3 30.3 20.3 27.3
ST-2 9.3 - 27.3 50.4 30.6 15.5
ST-3 14.5 13.0 - 14.5 41.1 7.7
Infec- tion Level
Study area
Cholera Dysentery Diarrhea Skin Allergy
Skin Infection
Skin Paleness
ST-4 18.2 23.0 - 40.1 59 25
Low
ST-1 - - 9.7 25.7 13.7 22.7
ST-2 - - 22.7 14.6 54.2 60.5
ST-3 4.5 - 20.0 4.5 6 56.4
ST-4 1.0 19.6 63.4 6.0 - 35.0
*Data are shown in percentage (%).
*Multiple answers are considered.
On the other hand, in the study area 2 (Pahartoli), people are affected by diarrheal mostly. In addition, skin related diseases are also common in this area among the people, which can be considered as water-borne diseases due to having brickfields in the locality. A sufferer named Anowara Begum told:
I’m afraid in thinking of suffering from any unexpected and major health problems. I used to take bath in that pond. I also use it for washing my utensils. But its color is faded away day by day. I am already infected with skin diseases. I belong to a poor family. If any disease happens to my family how I can survive.
In study area 3 (Kattoli), skin allergies and cholera are frequent health problems. Specifically, people are highly affected by dysentery, diarrhoea and skin infections. On the other hand, in Juldi (study area 4), people are highly affected by dysentery, diarrhoea and skin allergies problems. An older adult named Akramul uttered:
People who live near the brickfields are suffering from diarrhoea and dizziness, mostly due to water contamination. Over time, our family and neighbours tried to cope with this water.
As far as I have seen, dysentery is a very common problem that the people in this area face.
If someone uses open water-reservoir water without filtering, there is a strong possibility of getting affected by this health problem. Sometimes, the brickfields owners throw their waste into the river. That is very dangerous and may bring about cholera and dysentery to inhabitants who reside by the side of the river.
The respondents opined that water-borne diseases are increasing in this study area. Maintaining a safe distance from the brickfields and not using open water bodies is not affected that much.
Concluding Remarks
Brickfields are jeopardizing both the environment and health. This research has revealed a lot of information regarding greenhouse gases emission from brickfields in Chittagong City, which was not explored in the past. The study has also discussed the sufferings of the local ambience due to this emission. It is evident from the present research that brickfields located in the peripheral zones are operated using traditional technologies, which are mounting up a colossal volume of greenhouse gases. The situation worsens day by day in the Eastern (Mohora) and Southern (Juldi) periphery.
Brickfields is situated near the river, agricultural lands and human settlement. Thus, the residents of that two study areas suffer more than the others. In the case of emission, all four study areas are
almost equal in the ratio. Traditional brick making technologies, lack of training and management, low quality of fuel accelerates the emission. Though they claimed to maintain all the rules and regulations, the scenario is vice versa. Various types of human sufferings are caused by airborne and water-borne diseases instigated by the emission. With time, the suffering level of people is increasing gradually because no proper steps have been undertaken by the authority to alleviate the hardship of the affected people. Overpopulation and industrialization boost up the gear of urbanization. So, the necessity of brick industries cannot be denied. Therefore, the government has to update the following policy framework for sustainable development of this brick kiln industry:
• Usage of environment-friendly and energy-efficient bricks must be introduced among the mass people to avoid greenhouse gas emissions, land degradation and air pollution.
• There should be no setting up of any brickfields nearby the educational institutions and forest areas.
• Air pollution control equipment should be added to the chimney to reduce the volume of pollution.
• People residing near the brickfields should be conscious about their health from brick kiln induced air and water pollution.
Acknowledgement
The first author extends his gratitude to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, to provide NST fellowship to accomplish the research. Both authors are thankful to Professor Monjurul Alam of the Institute of Modern Language, Chittagong University, for English edits.
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