Dhaka, Bangladesh, saw its air quality plummet to alarming levels, securing the fifth position among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning. With an Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 158 at 10:33 am, Dhaka’s air was deemed “unhealthy,” according to the latest data.
Leading the list were India’s Delhi, Nepal’s Kathmandu, and China’s Beijing, with AQI scores of 246, 174, and 167, respectively.
When the AQI value falls between 101 and 150, the air quality is labeled “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while readings between 150 and 200 are simply termed “unhealthy.” Levels surpassing 200 are considered “very unhealthy,” with anything over 301 classified as “hazardous,” posing severe health risks.
The AQI serves as a crucial indicator of daily air quality, informing residents about potential health hazards associated with pollution levels. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution, often experiencing worsened conditions in winter that slightly improve during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution claims an estimated seven million lives annually worldwide, primarily due to increased mortality from various respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
