Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, continues to experience ‘unhealthy’ air quality conditions, registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 191 at 9:02 am on Saturday. This places the metropolitan city in the 6th position globally for cities with the poorest air quality.
Leading the list are Sarajevo in Bosnia Herzegovina, Delhi in India, and Accra in Ghana, with AQI scores of 323, 241, and 227, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 150 is deemed ‘unhealthy’ for sensitive groups, while a range of 150 to 200 is categorized as ‘unhealthy.’ An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered ‘very unhealthy,’ and readings exceeding 300 are deemed ‘hazardous,’ posing severe health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on five criteria pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone. Dhaka has been grappling with air pollution issues, particularly worsening during winter and improving in the monsoon season.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for global death and disability. According to the World Health Organization, an estimated seven million people worldwide succumb to air pollution-related causes annually, primarily due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. Stay informed about the air quality in Dhaka for your well-being and safety.
