Dhaka's air quality showed a slight improvement on Sunday morning (July 5), ranking 16th among the world’s most polluted cities, according to real-time data from Swiss-based air monitoring agency IQAir.

At 8:00 am, the capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 81, placing it in the ‘moderate’ or ‘tolerable’ category. 

This level of pollution poses minimal health risk for the general population, though individuals with respiratory conditions are still advised to exercise caution.

At the top of the global list was Kampala, Uganda, with an AQI of 178, followed by Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (173) and Manama, Bahrain (147) — all falling under the ‘unhealthy’ or ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ categories.

Understanding the AQI
As per IQAir standards, an AQI score between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 is ‘moderate’, and 101 to 150 is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ such as children, the elderly, and those with respiratory issues. Scores between 151 and 200 are deemed ‘unhealthy’, 201 to 300 as ‘very unhealthy’, and anything above 300 is categorized as ‘hazardous.’

While Dhaka frequently ranks among the most polluted cities in the world, today's relatively better air quality comes as a temporary relief for residents.

Environmental experts continue to urge authorities to implement sustainable policies for air pollution control, especially in urban areas where construction dust, vehicular emissions, and industrial activity are major contributors to poor air quality.

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