Geospatial Distribution of Urban Air Pollutants and PM2.5 Health Risks in a Growing Urban Centre of Bangladesh

Air pollution is a pressing public health concern in rapidly urbanizing regions, yet limited studies have focused on emerging urban centers in South Asia. This study comprehensively analyzes ambient air quality and associated health risks in Sherpur Pouroshova, Bangladesh. Real-time measurements of particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and gaseous pollutants (CO, CO2, SO2, CH4, NO2, O3) were conducted using sensor-based monitoring at 15 strategically selected locations. The spatial distribution of pollutants was visualized using the inverse distance weighting interpolation method in a GIS framework, and air quality was evaluated using a modified Air Quality Index (AQI) methodology. The highest concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 were observed in industrial and high-traffic zones, with AQI values reaching the "Unhealthy" category in several locations. Health risk assessment was conducted using the Integrated Exposure–Response (IER) model and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) methodologies. Excess Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR) values for PM2.5 exceeded the USEPA threshold (1.0 × 10–6) at multiple sites across all age groups, indicating elevated carcinogenic risks, particularly for infants and older adults. Non-carcinogenic risks, quantified using Hazard Quotients (HQ), surpassed permissible limits in densely populated and industrial areas, especially among working-age adults. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted air quality management, stricter emission controls, and enhanced monitoring infrastructure in emerging urban centers like Sherpur. The study highlights critical pollution hotspots and provides a replicable methodological framework for assessing environmental health risks in underrepresented urban contexts.