On Wednesday morning at 9am, Dhaka’s air quality was categorized as moderate with an AQI score of 97, placing it 13th among cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
Lahore, Jakarta, and Beijing topped the list with AQI scores of 198, 166, and 164, respectively.
An AQI between 50 and 100 signifies moderate air quality, while values between 101 and 150 are considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. AQI scores from 150 to 200 indicate unhealthy air, 201 to 300 denote very unhealthy air, and scores above 301 are deemed hazardous, posing serious health risks.
The AQI provides insights into the cleanliness or pollution levels of a city’s air and the potential health implications. In Bangladesh, the AQI is derived from five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has persistently struggled with air pollution, particularly during the winter months, with conditions typically improving during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for approximately seven million deaths annually worldwide, largely due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
