In a recent air quality assessment, Dhaka clinched the second spot globally for the poorest air quality, scoring 187 on the AQI scale at 9:09 am last Saturday.
The air quality index labeled Dhaka’s air as “unhealthy,” underscoring the pressing pollution issue in the city.
Leading the roster were India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore, and Indonesia’s Jakarta, securing the first, third, and fourth positions respectively, with AQI readings of 212, 181, and 168.
When the AQI oscillates between 101 and 150 for particle pollution, the air quality is deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” A range of 150 to 200 is classified as “unhealthy,” while 201 to 300 is considered “very unhealthy,” and anything above 301 is tagged as “hazardous,” posing significant health risks to residents.
The AQI acts as a vital tool, informing individuals about the cleanliness or pollution levels in their city’s air and the associated health implications. Bangladesh’s AQI calculation incorporates five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been entrenched in air pollution issues, typically worsening during winter and seeing a semblance of relief during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution claims an estimated seven million lives globally each year, predominantly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
