Bangladesh’s overcrowded capital Dhaka has ranked fourth on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 167 at 9:30 am on Wednesday.
The city’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy’, indicating a potential health threat. Poor air quality has persisted for several days, with AQI readings remaining above 160.
According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) standards, a reading between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate,’ where sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor activity.
An AQI of 101–150 is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups,’ 151–200 is ‘unhealthy,’ 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy,’ and a reading above 301 is considered ‘hazardous,’ posing serious health risks.
Dhaka was preceded by Lahore (AQI 260), Delhi (AQI 222), and Kolkata (AQI 174), which occupied the first, second, and third spots respectively. The AQI measures daily air quality and informs residents about potential health effects.
In Bangladesh, the index is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, which typically worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon season.
The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that air pollution contributes to approximately seven million deaths worldwide each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
MN/
