Dhaka:The capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka, was ranked as the second most polluted city in the world on Monday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 185 recorded at 8:45 am.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the city's air quality was classified as 'unhealthy', posing a health threat to residents. Delhi in India topped the list with an AQI score of 387, while Kolkata ranked third with a score of 172.
The AQI scale classifies air quality levels as 'moderate' between 50 and 100, although sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion. Levels between 101-150 are deemed 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', 151-200 is 'unhealthy', 201-300 'very unhealthy', and readings above 301 are considered 'hazardous', posing severe health risks.
The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents about the cleanliness or pollution level of the air and highlights potential health effects. In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on measurements of five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has consistently faced challenges with air pollution that typically worsens in winter and improves during the monsoon season. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution leads to about seven million deaths worldwide each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.