Dhaka placed 17th among cities with the worst air quality globally, registering an AQI score of 83 at 9 AM on Sunday.
The air quality in Dhaka was classified as “moderate,” according to the air quality index (AQI).
Kampala, Uganda; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, held the top three spots with AQI scores of 179, 179, and 167, respectively.
An AQI value between 50 and 100 indicates “moderate” air quality. Values between 101 and 150 signify “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 150 to 200 is “unhealthy,” 201 to 300 is “very unhealthy,” and readings above 301 are considered “hazardous,” posing significant health risks.
The AQI is a daily measure of air quality, informing the public about how clean or polluted the air is and the associated health effects.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined by five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has been battling air pollution for a long time. Its air quality typically worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths worldwide annually, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
