Dhaka, Bangladesh, woke up to unhealthy air on Wednesday morning, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 159 at 08:56 am. This placed Dhaka as the fourth city globally with the worst air quality.
Leading the list were Lahore in Pakistan, Kathmandu in Nepal, and Delhi in India, with AQI scores of 172, 167, and 163, respectively.
When the AQI value for particle pollution ranges between 101 and 150, it is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. However, between 151 and 200, it is deemed unhealthy, and beyond 201 to 300, it is categorized as very unhealthy. Any reading exceeding 301 is considered hazardous, posing severe health risks.
Bangladesh determines its AQI based on five criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, typically worsening during the winter and improving during the monsoon season.
