Dhaka has ranked 12th among cities with the worst air quality globally, with an AQI score of 99 at 9am on Sunday.
According to the air quality index, Dhaka’s air this morning was classified as “moderate”.
An AQI value between 50 and 100 indicates “moderate” air quality, while values between 101 and 150 are “unhealthy for sensitive groups”. Readings between 150 and 200 are considered “unhealthy”, 201 to 300 are “very unhealthy”, and 301+ is “hazardous”, posing serious health risks to residents.
India’s Delhi, Indonesia’s Jakarta, and Bahrain’s Manama held the top three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 179, 158, and 143, respectively.
The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs people about the cleanliness or pollution level of a city’s air and the potential health effects.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths annually worldwide, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
