ASSESSMENT OF BRICK-KILN INDUCED AIR POLLUTION IN BANGLADESH AND IMPACTS ON PUBLIC HEALTH

The brick kilns are a significant factor in Bangladesh's poor air quality and community health. As brick production increases, hazardous emissions that are harmful to the environment, society, and economy of the country also rise. The research aims to delineate the polluted areas and map spatial air pollutant distribution and brick kilns, as well as their impacts on human health. Earth Observation techniques are used to map the areas and identify the polluted areas along with secondary data from the Department of Environment (DoE) to map Brick kiln density followed by further field surveys to locate the brick kilns outside their database. The polluted areas with higher brick kiln density will be identified by overlapping the air pollution map and the brick kiln density map. Finally, a structured questionnaire survey and KII will be conducted to assess the impact of brick kiln-induced air pollution on human health. This study will help formulate and develop regulatory rules for the design, maintenance, and workplace risks associated with brick kiln industries. It will also create the prospect of government and international investors in funding for brick kiln modification.