This morning, Dhaka’s air quality garnered international attention as it earned the undesirable distinction of being the fifth-worst in the world.
With an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 194 at 9:18 am, Dhaka found itself in the fifth position globally for cities grappling with the most severe air quality concerns. Topping the list were Accra (Ghana), Baghdad (Iraq), Shenyang (China), and Mumbai (India) with AQI scores of 275, 206, 204, and 202, respectively.
The categorization of ‘unhealthy’ is assigned to an AQI ranging from 150 to 200. Dhaka’s air quality is determined based on five criteria pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.
The persisting air pollution concerns in Dhaka, particularly during winter, have been a longstanding issue. The air quality tends to worsen in the colder months and experiences improvement during the monsoon season.
It is crucial to note that an AQI exceeding 200 is considered ‘very unhealthy,’ while a reading beyond 300 is deemed ‘hazardous,’ posing severe health risks to the residents. This revelation highlights the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address and mitigate air pollution in the city.
Globally, air pollution consistently ranks among the leading risk factors for death and disability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated seven million people worldwide succumb to the adverse effects of air pollution annually. The increased mortality is attributed to conditions such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. Dhaka’s current air quality status emphasizes the broader need for global initiatives to combat the detrimental impact of air pollution on public health.
