This study was conducted in the Khulna metropolitan city to determine the status of noise pollution at major traffic intersections and assess the possible effect of noise on regular noise afflicted people. For this research, five busiest roadways and traffic intersections; two mixed zone and three commercial zones were selected purposively and 'ST-8850 Sound Level Meter' was used to record the noise pressure level. Average noise pressure level and some noise parameters (Leq, L10, L50, L90, and Lnp) were measured at different shifts in each location both on working days and holidays. The result evidently specified that noise level in all major traffic circles of Khulna metropolitan city was much higher than the recommended threshold of acceptable noise level set by the Department of Environment (DOE) of Bangladesh. It was observed that the mixed area (Sonadanga, Gollamari) tends to have a higher average noise level than those of the commercial area (Shibbari, Notunrasta, Dakbangla). The noise pollution level (Lnp) in mixed areas varied from 92.77 dB (A) to 104.74 dB(A) on working days and 86.9 dB(A) to 105.5 dB(A) on holidays. On working days, the highest Leq was observed 92.65 ± 4.15 dB(A) in Sonadanga (mixed area), whereas the lowest was 85.13 ± 2.83 dB(A) in Dakbangla (commercial area). However, on holidays the highest level of Leq was found 90.41 ± 2.25 dB(A) in Sonadanga, while the lowest levels were 80.43 ± 3.20 dB(A) in Dakbangla. One-way ANOVA with LSD post-hoc test results illustrated that on working days there was a significant difference between the noise pollution levels (NPL) in different shifts of day time (F = 8.412, p < .05). The respondents of the study area addressed that they were the most affected by annoyance (70%), headache (62%), and hearing loss (46%) due to regular exposure to the traffic noise. Therefore, it is recommended to enhance awareness regarding the cause and effect of noise pollution among the noise producers and oppressed people. Subsequently, administrative measures have to take to attenuate noise pollution and indemnify the quality health of the citizens.

Food insecurity and malnutrition is a severe public crisis that has been linked to increasing risk of morbidity and mortality. To evaluate food security and nutrition status among children at some selected slum areas of Khulna city the study conducted during January to June 2019. Investigations had been made to identify different factors that are influencing food insecurity and malnutrition among children. The study aimed to determine food and nutrition status among children in selected four slum areas of Khulna city and provided some guidelines for improving food security and nutrition status among children. A cross sectional descriptive study had been conducted in four slum areas of Khulna city to assess food security and nutrition status of 0 to 60 months children. Interview schedule, questionnaire survey, anthropometric measurement and online document analysis had been used to achieve necessary data. The study was conducted using both qualitative and quantitative methods. Here purposive sampling procedure was used to determine sample size from the study areas where the total sample size was 90. The anthropometric results of the present study were interpreted using the WHO 2011 Z-score classifications. The major findings of this study were that nearly 34.5 percent of children were food secure, 24.4 percent was found mildly food insecure, 28.9 percent was moderately food insecure and 12.2 percent was found severely food insecure. Prevalence of wasting was 37.7 percent whereas that of stunting and underweight were 28.9 percent and 40.7 percent respectively. Several socio-economic factors such as income level, employment status of parents and expenditure on food are associated with food security and nutrition status of children. The study made suggestions for an integrated food security policy and nutrition based counseling in slum areas of Khulna city.

Background: Sound pollution has been emerging as a leading nuisance for urban dwellers all over the world. This study was conducted in some busiest traffic junctions of the Khulna metropolitan city of Bangladesh to reveal the impact of sound pollution on urban dwellers. Methods:The questionnaire survey was conducted using a probability selective sampling procedure and different age groups of respondents were chosen from the five busiest traffic junctures. The necessary associations were discovered using ross-tabulation, Pearson's Chi-square with Cramer's V coefficient, and binary logistic regression analysis.Results: Maximum respondents (95%) were found to be affected by several health issues (physical and psychological) due to the current level of road-traffic sound pollution. During the daytime, 98% of respondents claimed the high density of vehicles as a key factor. Meanwhile, 92% of them marked the buses [(χ 2 (2, n=140)=27.404, p<.0.001) with Cramer's V coefficient of 0.44] as the most sound generating source. The respondents spending more time in the noisy places were found to have approximately 1.354, 1.311, and 1.221times higher risk of hypertension, bad temperament, and irregular heartbeat problems, respectively than those who did not report. Notably, hearing loss issues were significantly more common among respondents from various age groups [odds ratio (OR): 1.045, 95% CI: 1.012-1.079]. Conclusion:Traffic sound pollution is harmful to human health. This study suggests that increasing awareness among people along with taking administrative measures would be effective to diminish the sound pollution problem.