Dust pollution in Dhaka air remains above the danger level one-third of the year, said minister for environment Hasan Mahmud in parliament, attributing it to open-air construction works and road digging and the brick-kilns set up around the city. The minister, during the question-answer session, said during dry seasons, presence of dust particles remain in Dhaka air 200 micrograms per cubic metre and during monsoon it lowers to 65 micrograms per cubic metre. As per Environment Conservation Rules (amended in 2005) the acceptable rate is 150 micrograms per cubic metre. ‘Dhaka’s air contains dust particles above the tolerable level in about 100 days of a year, especially in the winter season,’ he said. The Department of Environment finds Dhaka’s air was polluted with smoke, gases and toxic chemicals and the density of airborne particulate matter reached to 463 micrograms per cubic meter. ‘The rate of dust pollution remains less than tolerable level during the rainy season and the days other than winter season,’ the minister said. He added that the extent of dust pollution rises in the winter because of low air-flow and less rainfall. The minister said that the government had taken up a number of measures to improve Dhaka’s air quality since it assumed office in early 2009. He identified various construction works, road digging in the open, emission of vehicular smoke and dust from brick kilns around the city as major polluters. A World Bank finance project titled Clean Air and Sustainable Environment worth about Tk 486.56 crore is underway in Dhaka and other major cities to combat dust pollution, the minister said adding that the four more air quality detection centres had been established Dhaka and its adjoining districts. Projects had also been undertaken to create awareness among the common people against dust pollution, Mahmud said. The minister said dust pollution causes various bronchial and cardiac disorders and the government was aware of it and had taken various measures to check such pollution. According to the National Institute of Diseases of Chest and Hospital, nearly seven million people, most are the children, in Bangladesh suffer from asthma, a disease caused by dust pollution.