Dhaka, Bangladesh, secured the third position among the most polluted cities globally, registering an unhealthy Air Quality Index (AQI) of 168 at 9 am on Thursday.
Leading the list were Lahore, Pakistan, and Kathmandu, Nepal, with AQI scores of 207 and 171, respectively. An AQI score ranging from 101 to 200 is deemed unhealthy, especially for vulnerable groups.
In Dhaka, the AQI measurement encompasses five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone. The city faces recurring air quality challenges, deteriorating notably during winter and improving somewhat during the monsoon season.
Air pollution poses significant health risks, contributing to heart disease, chronic respiratory ailments, lung infections, and cancer. According to numerous studies, breathing polluted air escalates these health risks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution claims approximately seven million lives globally each year, primarily due to heightened mortality from various diseases such as stroke, heart disease, and respiratory infections.
