Dhaka: Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, ranked eighth on the list of the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 99.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the AQI index categorized the city’s air quality as ‘Moderate’ at 11:50am. An unnamed city topped the pollution list with an AQI score of 156, followed by another city with 129 and a third city with 126. An AQI score ranging from 101 to 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while a reading between 151 and 200 is labelled ‘unhealthy’. AQI values between 201 and 300 are regarded as ‘very unhealthy’, whereas readings above 301 are classified as ‘hazardous’, indicating serious health risks.
The AQI serves as a daily measure of air quality, indicating how clean or polluted the air is and the potential health effects associated with it. In Bangladesh, AQI calculations are based on five key pollutants – particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, and ozone.
Dhaka has been grappling with air pollution for years. The city’s air quality generally deteriorates during winter and improves during the monsoon season. According to the report, air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths globally every year, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.