Dhaka:The city ranked 50th among the world's most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 55 recorded at 10:22 am.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the air quality in Dhaka was categorized as 'Moderate', which means it is generally acceptable, though unusually sensitive individuals may experience some health effects.
Leading the list of most polluted cities was Lahore, Pakistan, with an AQI score of 207. Kinshasa in DR Congo and Kuching in Malaysia followed in second and third places, with scores of 198 and 177, respectively.
The AQI uses specific ranges to classify air quality levels 101 to 150 is 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', 151 to 200 is 'unhealthy', 201 to 300 is 'very unhealthy', and levels above 301 are 'hazardous', carrying serious health risks. It provides daily updates on air quality, highlighting potential health impacts.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on levels of five pollutants particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. Dhaka has a history of air pollution, with worse conditions typically during winter and improvements during the monsoon season.
The World Health Organization estimates that globally, air pollution contributes to around seven million deaths annually, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.