Dhaka, the capital city, has secured the fifth position in the global ranking of cities with the poorest air quality, recording an AQI score of 191 at 9:10 am on Saturday. The Air Quality Index categorizes Dhaka’s air as “unhealthy.”
Leading the list were Kolkata and Karachi, India and Pakistan respectively, with AQI scores of 241 each, followed by Mumbai at the third spot with a score of 207.
When the AQI value falls between 101 and 150, the air quality is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while readings between 150 and 200 are classified as “unhealthy.” Values exceeding 200 indicate “very unhealthy” air, and a reading of 301 or more is considered “hazardous,” posing severe health risks.
The AQI serves as a crucial index for daily air quality reporting, providing insights into the cleanliness or pollution levels in a city and potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues, typically experiencing a decline in air quality during winter and improvement during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to the estimated seven million global deaths annually, primarily linked to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
