Dhaka Leads Global Chart Again for Worst Air Quality

Once again, Dhaka has secured the top spot on the global list for cities with the poorest air quality, registering an AQI score of 271 at 8:50 am this morning.

According to The Daily Star, the air quality index categorizes Dhaka’s air as ‘very unhealthy,’ posing significant health hazards for its residents.

Following closely on the list are India’s Kolkata, Delhi, and China’s Wuhan, securing the second, third, and fourth positions with AQI scores of 244, 231, and 231, respectively. Lahore recorded an AQI of 186 in the morning.

When the AQI value for particle pollution falls between 101 and 150, the air quality is deemed ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups.’ Readings between 150 and 200 are considered ‘unhealthy,’ while the range of 201 to 300 is labeled ‘very unhealthy.’ A reading exceeding 301 is classified as ‘hazardous,’ posing severe health risks to residents.

Also Read: Lahore’s Air Quality Improves After Artificial Rain

The Air Quality Index (AQI), designed to report daily air quality, provides insight into how clean or polluted the air is in a specific city, outlining potential health effects for the public. In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.

Dhaka has long grappled with air pollution issues, with air quality typically deteriorating in the winter and improving during the monsoon. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily linked to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.