Dhaka has secured the sixth position among cities with the most severe air quality concerns globally, registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 179 at 9:20 am this Friday.
The air quality in Dhaka was classified as unhealthy, as per the Air Quality Index standards. Outranking Dhaka, the top three cities with the worst air quality are Shenyang in China with a score of 242, Accra in Ghana with a score of 220, and Shanghai in China with a score of 194.
Understanding the AQI values is crucial for assessing air quality. An AQI reading between 101 and 150 is deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, between 150 and 200 is generally unhealthy, 201 to 300 is considered very unhealthy, and a score of 301 or higher is regarded as hazardous, posing severe health risks to residents.
The Air Quality Index serves as a daily air quality reporting tool, providing information on the cleanliness or pollution levels in a specific city and outlining potential health risks associated with it.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution issues, with air quality typically deteriorating in winter and improving during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to an estimated seven million deaths globally each year. The main causes of increased mortality are linked to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
