Dhaka, Bangladesh, faced a concerning air quality situation on Wednesday, registering an “unhealthy” Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 157 at 9:11 am. This positioned Dhaka at the 9th spot among cities with the poorest air quality worldwide.
Leading the list were Hanoi in Vietnam, Baghdad in Iraq, and Lahore in Pakistan, with AQI scores of 286, 176, and 184, respectively.
An AQI reading between 101 and 150 falls into the unhealthy category, while 201 to 300 is deemed very unhealthy. A reading exceeding 301 is considered hazardous, posing severe health risks to residents.
Bangladesh determines AQI based on five criteria pollutants, including Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution, typically experiencing a decline in air quality during winter and an improvement in the monsoon season.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top global risk factors for death and disability. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately seven million people worldwide succumb to air pollution-related causes each year. This heightened mortality is primarily attributed to increased risks of stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
