Dhaka has clinched the third spot for having the most appalling air quality among cities worldwide this Friday morning, as reported by the air quality index.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 173 at 9:09 am, Dhaka continues to linger in the “unhealthy” category, joining the ranks of cities battling hazardous air pollution.
Leading the list are India’s Delhi and Thailand’s Chiang Mai, boasting AQI scores of 197 and 182, respectively.
In Bangladesh, the AQI considers five criteria pollutants: Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.
Dhaka’s struggle with air pollution is longstanding, typically worsening during winter and slightly improving during the monsoon season.
Air pollution remains a significant global health risk, with studies linking it to heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, lung infections, and cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately seven million people worldwide succumb to air pollution-related causes annually.
