On Saturday morning, Dhaka’s air quality was classified as “moderate.”
With an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 92 at 9:11 am, Dhaka ranked 12th among cities worldwide with the poorest air quality.
Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuwait City in Kuwait, and Baghdad in Iraq occupied the top three spots, with AQI scores of 174, 162, and 153, respectively.
An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered “moderate,” indicating acceptable air quality. However, it may pose a health concern for a very small number of individuals who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
AQI scores between 150 and 200 are considered “unhealthy,” between 201 and 300 are deemed “very unhealthy,” and readings above 301 are labeled “hazardous,” posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues, with air quality typically deteriorating in the winter and improving during the monsoon season.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths annually worldwide.
