On Friday morning, Dhaka found itself grappling with alarming air quality levels, ranking as the fifth most polluted city worldwide. The city registered an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 185 at 9:50 am, categorizing its air quality as “unhealthy” based on established metrics.
Leading the global pollution chart were Kolkata in India, Karachi in Pakistan, and Wuhan in China, securing the first three positions with AQI scores of 291, 214, and 191, respectively.
Understanding the AQI scale provides insights into the severity of air pollution. An AQI ranging between 101 and 200 is deemed “unhealthy,” especially for vulnerable populations. Meanwhile, levels between 201 and 300 signify a “very unhealthy” range. Beyond 301, the air quality is labeled “hazardous,” posing severe health implications for inhabitants.
The AQI serves as a crucial metric, offering a daily snapshot of a city’s air quality and potential health implications. In Bangladesh, this index focuses on five key pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.
Dhaka’s persistent battle with air pollution intensifies during winter, though it witnesses slight relief during the monsoon season. Alarmingly, the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights the dire global ramifications of air pollution, estimating approximately seven million deaths annually due to associated health complications like stroke, heart disease, and respiratory ailments.
