On Thursday morning, Dhaka’s air quality was deemed unhealthy for sensitive groups, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 111 at 9am, placing the city 10th among the world’s most polluted cities. Lahore, Delhi, and Kinshasa topped the list with AQI scores of 219, 190, and 172, respectively.
The AQI values range from:
- 101-150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups
- 150-200: Unhealthy
- 201-300: Very unhealthy
- 301+: Hazardous, posing severe health risks
The AQI measures five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka’s air quality typically worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to an estimated seven million deaths annually due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
