Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked 31st among cities with the worst air quality, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 67 at 9 AM on Wednesday. This classification continues from Tuesday, where Dhaka’s air quality was also rated as “moderate” according to the AQI index.
An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered “moderate,” indicating acceptable air quality, though sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Scores between 101 and 150 are deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” between 150 and 200 are “unhealthy,” between 201 and 300 are “very unhealthy,” and readings above 301 are considered “hazardous,” posing serious health risks.
The cities with the highest pollution levels were Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lahore in Pakistan, and Baghdad in Iraq, with AQI scores of 181, 176, and 165 respectively.
The AQI reports daily air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is 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 season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
