Pollution

Pollution

Investigating Variability of Roadside Air Pollution and Its Association with Traffic Volume in Urban Areas, Bangladesh

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
Sayed Mohammad Rasel 1, 2
Md Jamil Hossain 1, 2
Afsana Yasmin 1, 2
Md. Lazim Islam 2
Al Jubaer 3
Md Ziaul Haque 4
Mohammad Abdul Motalib 4
Afzal Ahmed 5
Md. Shakhaoat Hossain 1, 2
1 Climate Change, Air Quality and Health Research (C2AHR) Unit, Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh
2 Department of Public Health and Informatics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka-1342, Bangladesh
3 International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), 68 Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Sarani, Mohakhali, Dhaka, 1212, Bangladesh
4 Department of Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Agargaon, Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
5 South Florida Water Management District, West Palm Beach, Florida, United States
10.22059/poll.2026.413080.3316
Abstract
Globally, air pollution has now become one of the most serious threats to human health. This situation is very dire at roadside areas and poses adverse health outcomes, especially in developing countries experiencing rapid urbanization and industrialization, such as Bangladesh. This study aims to investigate seasonal variation at roadside environments air pollution and its association with traffic volume in an urban area (Gazipur City), Bangladesh. Measurements of air pollutant (PM2.5) and traffic volume were estimated from seven different locations in Gazipur by using Aeroqual sensor and digital devices, respectively, during two distinct seasons (winter and summer) in 2024. Simple linear regression was used to estimate the association between roadside air pollution and traffic volume. Results indicated that the average PM2.5 concentration varied from 192 to 324 µg/m3 during winter and 27 to 72 µg/m3 during summer. Concentrations were highest in the morning, particularly during winter (311 µg/m³), approximately 36% higher than in the afternoon. Results also revealed that there is significant seasonal variation of roadside air pollution. During winter, the average PM2.5 concentration was 4.84 times higher than in the summer season. Additionally, air pollution showed significant association with traffic, explaining up to 92% and 77% of the variance in the winter and summer season, respectively. These findings highlight the importance of tighter control policies (such as proper maintenance of the vehicles, stricter fuel quality standards, phasing out unfit vehicles, proper traffic management etc.) aimed at lowering long-term average roadside air pollution levels and reducing traffic’s contribution to air pollution.
Keywords
Roadside air pollution
Particulate matter
Seasonal variation
Traffic volume
Bangladesh
Subjects
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Pollution
Volume 12, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 985-999