Dhaka has claimed the unenviable title of the city with the poorest air quality globally, recording an AQI score of 269 at 8:55 am on Tuesday. The Air Quality Index deems Dhaka’s air as very unhealthy, posing significant health risks to its residents.
In the global rankings, Accra in Ghana, Kampala in Uganda, and Mumbai in India secured the second, third, and fourth positions, with AQI scores of 209, 189, and 188, respectively.
Understanding AQI values is crucial. When the AQI for particle pollution falls between 101 and 150, air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. A range of 150 to 200 is deemed unhealthy, 201 to 300 is labeled as very unhealthy, and a reading exceeding 301 is considered hazardous, posing severe health risks.
The Air Quality Index serves as a vital tool, informing people about the cleanliness or pollution levels in a city’s air and highlighting potential health concerns. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka’s ongoing struggle with air pollution is evident, especially during the winter months when air quality deteriorates, albeit showing improvement during the monsoon season.
This alarming situation aligns with global concerns raised by organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates that air pollution causes approximately seven million deaths annually worldwide. The primary contributors to this mortality include stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
