Dhaka residents woke up to a slight relief in air quality on Wednesday morning, as the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded a score of 68 at 9:10 am.
According to the AQI, Dhaka’s air quality was classified as moderate, signaling a positive shift in environmental conditions for the city.
Comparatively, other cities faced more severe air pollution challenges, with Lahore, Pakistan topping the list with an AQI score of 242, followed by Jakarta, Indonesia at 169, and Hanoi, Vietnam at 160.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality levels, with scores between 50 and 100 indicating moderate conditions. Beyond 100, air quality poses increasing risks to health, with levels categorized as unhealthy, very unhealthy, and hazardous.
In Bangladesh, the AQI considers five pollutants, including particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone, to assess air quality standards.
Dhaka’s struggle with air pollution persists, with winters often exacerbating the issue and the monsoon season offering temporary respite.
Globally, air pollution remains a significant public health concern, contributing to an estimated seven million deaths annually, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). The mortality is primarily linked to stroke, heart disease, respiratory ailments, and lung cancer, underlining the critical importance of addressing air quality issues worldwide.
