Dhaka ascended to the third position in the global ranking of cities with the most severe air pollution on Thursday morning, maintaining its grim reputation for poor air quality.
The air quality index (AQI) for Dhaka stood at 174 at 9:10 am, firmly placing it in the “unhealthy” category. An AQI between 151 and 200 signifies unhealthy air quality, while readings of 201–300 are classified as “very unhealthy,” and 301–400 fall into the “hazardous” range, posing severe health risks to residents.
Topping the list were Thailand’s Chiang Mai, India’s Delhi, and Nepal’s Kathmandu, with AQI scores of 191, 185, and 169, respectively.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined by assessing five criteria pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution, typically experiencing worsened air quality in winter and some improvement during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks as one of the leading risk factors for global mortality and disability. Studies indicate that breathing polluted air significantly increases the likelihood of developing heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, lung infections, and cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an estimated seven million people worldwide die each year due to air pollution, primarily from increased mortality linked to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
