Dhaka’s air quality showed slight improvement on Friday morning, ranking 31st among cities with the worst air quality. At 9:20am, the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 71, which falls under the “moderate” category, posing a light health threat according to the AQI index.

In recent days, Dhaka’s air has remained moderate, indicating gradual improvement as the monsoon season helps wash away pollutants. According to the AQI scale, when particle pollution is between 50 and 100, air quality is considered moderate. Sensitive groups are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activities during this level.

In comparison, Chile’s Santiago topped the list with an AQI of 189, followed by Cairo at 156 and Lahore at 151 — all significantly worse than Dhaka.

The AQI measures daily air pollution levels and warns about potential health risks. In Bangladesh, it is calculated based on five major pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.

Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution, which generally worsens during winter and improves during the rainy season. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution causes around seven million deaths worldwide every year, mostly from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and acute respiratory infections.

MN/