On Monday morning, Dhaka secured the third position on the global chart for cities with the most detrimental air quality, registering an AQI (Air Quality Index) of 272 at 8:51 am.
The AQI classification labeled Dhaka’s atmospheric conditions as ‘very unhealthy’. Leading the list, India’s Delhi and Kolkata clinched the first and second positions, recording AQI scores of 306 and 294, respectively.
To provide context, an AQI ranging between 101 and 150 denotes unhealthy air for sensitive groups. Between 150 and 200 is simply unhealthy, while an AQI between 201 and 300 is deemed very unhealthy. Any value surpassing 301 signifies hazardous conditions, signaling severe health implications for inhabitants.
The AQI serves as a pivotal metric, shedding light on a city’s daily air quality and potential health ramifications. In Bangladesh, this score hinges on five critical pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka’s ongoing struggle with air pollution remains evident, with air quality deteriorating notably during winter and witnessing some relief during the monsoon season. Alarmingly, as per the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately seven million global fatalities annually are attributed to air pollution, exacerbating risks related to ailments such as heart diseases, respiratory infections, and more.
