Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has secured the fourth position on the global list of cities with the poorest air quality, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 196 at 9 am on Monday.
According to the Air Quality Index, Dhaka’s air quality was deemed unhealthy. The top three spots on the list were claimed by Accra in Ghana, Kolkata, and Delhi in India, with AQI scores of 291, 245, and 222, respectively.
An AQI value falling between 101 and 150 indicates that air quality is unhealthy for sensitive groups, while a range of 150 to 200 is considered unhealthy. Readings between 201 and 300 are categorized as very unhealthy, and values exceeding 301 are regarded as hazardous, posing severe health risks.
The AQI serves as an indicator for daily air quality, providing information on the cleanliness or pollution levels in a specific city and the potential health effects for residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution, with its air quality typically deteriorating in winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that worldwide, air pollution contributes to the deaths of approximately seven million people annually. The leading causes of mortality are linked to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
