Dhaka:The city ranked 6th among the world's most polluted cities on Sunday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 166 at 0831 am.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the air quality in Dhaka was classified as 'unhealthy', indicating that the concentration of pollutants in the air has reached a level posing potential health risks to the general population, as per the AQI scale.
Kolkata in India topped the list with an AQI score of 187, followed by Singapore at 184, and Hanoi in Vietnam with a score of 178. The AQI categorizes a score between 101 and 150 as 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while 151 to 200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. Scores between 201 and 300 are considered 'very unhealthy', and levels above 301 are deemed 'hazardous', posing serious health risks.
The AQI provides daily updates, informing the public about air quality and potential health impacts. In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on five major pollutants particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has historically faced challenges with air pollution, often experiencing poorer air quality during winter months, which tends to improve with the onset of the monsoon season. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.