Welcome To Air Quality and Environmental Pollution Research Laboratory

Overview:

Air Quality and Environmental Pollution Research Laboratory (AQEPRL) was established in 2014 with a joint collaboration with Wuppertal University, Germany and the financial support of the Higher Education Enhancement Project (HEQEP). 

Objective: The main objectives of the AQEPRL are to enhance research activities regarding the assessment of the Atmospheric Scenario of Bangladesh by observing different unwanted gaseous and solid constituents in the air. We know the urban areas of Bangladesh have been facing severe air pollution because of rapid and unplanned urbanization and industrialization. AQEPRL focuses on the safeguarding of air resources or ambient air quality against pollution, effects of pollution on plant growth, and prediction of human health risks due to pollution. Recently, the AQEPRL has extended its activity of research in the fields of water and soil pollutions. Assessment of physicochemical and microbiological parameters from discharge water of factories, power plants, municipal sewage treatment plants is one of the major activities. The research activities have been directly supported by the faculty members of the Dhaka University.

Research Area:

Research on diurnal data evaluation to ensure the quality of the data that consist of CO, CO₂, NOx, NO, NO₂, O₃, SO₂ and PM-10 from Air Quality Monitoring Station, CARS, University of Dhaka. This research mainly focuses on generating real-time air quality indexes and analyzing the sources of pollutants and thus simulating models to predict future scenarios of air pollution in Bangladesh.

Facilities:

AQEPRL has several advanced research facilities including a continuous ambient air monitoring station (CAMS), mobile PM10 and PM2.5 samplers, and particle size and shape analyzer, biosafety cabinet for microbiological analysis, industrial six gases analyzer for stack sampling etc. Master’s and Ph.D. students have access to these facilities during their studies. Many students completed their MS thesis successfully from this laboratory.

Personnel:

• Dr. Muhammad Nurul Huda. Doctor of Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan, Postdoc: Nagoya University; Japan, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM); Malaysia, University of Cambridge; UK.
•  Md. Anowar Hosen; B.Sc (Hons), MS (CU), M.Phill in Chemistry (DU); Research Associate, Mahidol University, Thailand.
•  Md. Mofizur Rahman; B.Sc. Engr. (EEE), MBA (HRM)

Collaborations:

Sl	Organization	Description
1	AJI-CLE Co., Ltd and Ryobi Systems Co., Ltd, two esteemed Japanese companies committed to sustainable agricultural practices.	The AWD method is a water management technique primarily used in rice cultivation. Instead of continuously flooding rice fields, this approach involves intermittently allowing the fields to dry for a short period before re-irrigating them. By carefully controlling the water levels, this method can reduce water usage while maintaining or even enhancing rice yields. Additionally, it has the potential to significantly lower methane emissions, a major greenhouse gas associated with traditional rice cultivation.
2	USAID Compass project implemented by U.S. Forest Service	The broader goal of this research is to estimate the amount of air pollution (PM2.5, PM10) removed by Sal (Shorea robusta) Forest, and its associated monetary value and impact on human health.

Publications: