On Tuesday morning, Dhaka secured the fifth position among cities with the poorest air quality across the globe, registering an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 172.
As per the Air Quality Index assessment, Dhaka’s air quality fell into the “unhealthy” category. The top three spots were claimed by Chengdu in China, Delhi in India, and Lahore in Pakistan, with AQI scores of 341, 199, and 183, respectively.
To gauge air quality, the AQI value for particle pollution plays a crucial role. A score between 101 and 150 indicates unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups, while 150 to 200 is generally unhealthy. Moreover, readings between 201 and 300 are considered very unhealthy, and a score of 301 or above is deemed hazardous, posing serious health risks to residents.
The AQI serves as a daily air quality indicator, offering insights into the cleanliness or pollution levels of a city and potential health effects. Bangladesh’s AQI score is determined based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues, with air quality often deteriorating in winter and improving during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution globally claims approximately seven million lives annually, primarily due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
