Dhaka’s air quality takes a nosedive, securing the eighth spot globally for poor air conditions with an AQI reading of 160 recorded at 9 am today (March 17, 2024).
Leading the chart are Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi, and Thailand’s Chiang Mai, with AQI scores soaring at 254, 240, and 179 respectively.
An AQI range of 101 to 150 indicates unhealthy air quality for sensitive groups, while 150 to 200 signifies general unhealthy conditions. Readings between 201 and 300 are classified as very unhealthy, while anything above 301 poses hazardous risks.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) serves as a vital indicator, conveying the cleanliness or pollution levels in a city’s air and the potential health hazards associated with it.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined by five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution, typically worsening in winter and slightly ameliorating during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately seven million lives are claimed annually worldwide due to air pollution-related illnesses, including stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
