Temporal variation of ambient particulate matter in Chattogram City, Bangladesh

Chattogram is known as the Bangladesh's commercial capital with its diversified industrial area and seaport. This study aimed to assesses the Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10) in Chattogram city from 2013-2018. Data were collected from the Continuous Air Monitoring Station (CAMS) operated by the Department of Environment (DoE) of Bangladesh under the Clean Air and Sustainable Environment (CASE) project. The Study found the average annual concentration of PM2.5 was 5-6 times higher and PM10 was 3 times higher than Bangladesh National Ambient Air Quality Standard (BNAAQS) in Chattogram city since 2013-2018 over this five year period. The PM values seasonally varied being higher during the winter seasons and decreased in rainy seasons. The PM2.5 mass was detected 50% of that of PM10 which is mostly from biomass burn and vehicles activities. Meteorological parameters such as rainfall and humidity had negatively strong inverse relation with both PM2.5 and PM10.