Dhaka, Bangladesh, has secured the unfortunate sixth position in the global list of cities grappling with severe air pollution, as per the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) report released on Friday at 9:31 am. The city’s AQI score stood at 178, marking its air quality as unhealthy.
The top three spots on the distressing list were claimed by Delhi in India, Chiang Mai in Thailand, and Lahore in Pakistan, with AQI scores of 194, 194, and 186, respectively.
Understanding the AQI scale is crucial: an AQI value between 101 and 150 signifies unhealthy air for sensitive groups, while the range of 150 to 200 is considered generally unhealthy. A score between 201 and 300 indicates very unhealthy conditions, and anything beyond 301 poses hazardous risks, posing serious health concerns for residents.
The AQI serves as a vital tool for assessing daily air quality, providing insights into the cleanliness or pollution levels in a city and the potential health risks associated. Bangladesh calculates its AQI based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka, unfortunately, has a long-standing struggle with air pollution, experiencing a decline in air quality during winters, which typically improves during the monsoon season.
It’s essential to note that air pollution, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), contributes to an estimated seven million deaths globally each year. The primary causes include increased mortality rates from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections. This alarming data emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address and combat air quality issues in cities worldwide.
