On Wednesday morning, Dhaka ranked seventh globally for the worst air quality, with an AQI score of 132 at 9 am, indicating air that is unhealthy for sensitive groups. The top three cities with the poorest air quality were Lahore, Delhi, and Kinshasa, with AQI scores of 220, 190, and 170, respectively.
An AQI score between 101 and 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, while higher scores indicate more severe pollution levels. The AQI is based on five key pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has been struggling with air pollution, particularly during winter, with some improvement during the monsoon season. According to the WHO, air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths annually, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
