Following a rainfall, Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked 45th among cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI index of 59 at 9am on Sunday. This classification of “moderate” air quality has persisted over the past few days, offering a healthier environment for residents.
When AQI values range from 50 to 100, air quality is considered “moderate,” with sensitive individuals advised to limit prolonged outdoor activities. Higher AQI ranges indicate progressively worse air quality, with 101-150 being “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 150-200 “unhealthy,” 201-300 “very unhealthy,” and 301+ deemed “hazardous,” posing serious health risks.
The cities with the worst air quality on the list were Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Santiago in Chile, and Delhi in India, with AQI scores of 201, 186, and 160, respectively.
The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents about pollution levels and potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka’s air quality typically deteriorates in winter and improves during the monsoon.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths annually, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
