River pollution and social inequalities in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Abstract

River pollution through the discharge of untreated sewage and industrial effluent is a perverse outcome of rapid urbanisation and economic growth across Asia. To understand the socio-spatial and seasonal inequalities in pollution risks, we designed a direct observation method to record people’s daily river use activities across dry and wet seasons, complemented by monthly monitoring of river water quality, heavy metal and biotoxicity assessment a large-scale household survey along a 25km stretch of the Turag River and Tongi Khal in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We found very high ammonia and almost zero dissolved oxygen during the low flow season, further exacerbated by heavy metals from the annual Bishwa Ijtema gathering and downstream industrial zones. Pollution exposure through domestic activities prevailed throughout the year, particularly for women and girls along low-income settlements lacking adequate water and sanitation facilities. Swimming peaked among men and children in the monsoon, risking exposure to pathogen pollution. Recognising the social inequalities in risk can support the sequencing of policy action involving short-term adaptation (improved services, education, advocacy) and long-term mitigation (effluent treatment, regulation and enforcement) responses.