Dhaka ranked 26th among cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 68 at 8:55 AM on Thursday, indicating “moderate” air quality. This trend has persisted for several days due to monsoon influences, according to the air quality index.
An AQI value between 50 and 100 is considered “moderate,” 101 to 150 is “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 150 to 200 is “unhealthy,” 201 to 300 is “very unhealthy,” and 301+ is deemed “hazardous.”
Leading the list were Kampala in Uganda, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Jakarta in Indonesia, with AQI scores of 191, 168, and 132, respectively.
The AQI measures daily air quality and informs residents about pollution levels and potential health concerns. 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, typically worsening in winter and improving during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths globally each year, primarily due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
