Addressing Air Pollution
20x20 | Reducing health impacts from brick kilns
Stanford researchers are tackling a pressing environmental and public health issue for tens of millions of people: air pollution from brick kilns in South Asia. Since launching their project in 2016, the team has developed an intervention adopted by over 400 brick kilns in Bangladesh, leading to substantial reductions in coal consumption, air pollution, and health risks for millions.
Brick kilns are a crucial part of the economy in South Asia, producing the majority of bricks for the region's rapidly growing construction industry. However, outdated and inefficient production methods have resulted in dangerous levels of air pollution, contributing to significant health risks, especially respiratory illnesses like pneumonia, which is a leading cause of death for children in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, brick kilns account for 91% of black carbon and up to 40% of PM2.5 levels during winter.
Supported by an Environmental Venture Projects (EVP) grant from the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, an interdisciplinary team led by Steve Luby, Francis Fukuyama, and Howard Zebker took on the challenge. Through advanced remote sensing and data analysis, the team initially mapped thousands of brick kilns across Bangladesh, providing crucial data to inform interventions.
More recently, the researchers developed the "Zigzag 2.0," which combines technical modifications with operational changes to improve kiln efficiency and reduce emissions. This intervention has been implemented in more than 400 kilns across Bangladesh, reducing coal consumption in each by nearly a quarter. The carbon dioxide emissions averted by a single kiln in a single season is equivalent to planting about 8,000 seedlings and allowing them to grow for 10 years, the researchers estimate.
The Government of Bangladesh has requested the team scale up the project nationwide.
This work has the potential to drive significant improvements in air quality and public health, with the ultimate goal of achieving an 80% reduction in black carbon and particulate matter emissions from brick kilns throughout South Asia. The intervention not only benefits the environment but also creates economic advantages for kiln owners by reducing coal costs and increasing the percentage of high-quality bricks.
Photo Credits: Top (iStock)
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