Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, has secured the unenviable fourth position in the global ranking of cities with the poorest air quality, registering an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 196 at 9:08 am on Saturday.
The Air Quality Index has categorized Dhaka’s air as “unhealthy,” adding to the growing concern over the city’s deteriorating air quality. Topping the list are India’s Delhi and Mumbai, along with Pakistan’s Karachi, with AQI scores of 218, 199, and 198, respectively.
The AQI value serves as a crucial indicator, with a range of 101-150 indicating “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 150-200 considered “unhealthy,” 201-300 categorized as “very unhealthy,” and a reading exceeding 301 marked as “hazardous,” posing severe health risks.
This index, which assesses daily air quality, provides insights into the cleanliness or pollution levels in a city and the potential health effects on its residents. In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution problems, with air quality typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the global impact of air pollution, estimating that it claims seven million lives annually. The health risks associated with air pollution include increased mortality rates from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
