Dhaka:On Tuesday morning, Dhaka was identified as the sixth most polluted city in the world, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 162 at 1040 am.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the AQI score classifies Dhaka's air quality as 'unhealthy', indicating that the concentration of air pollutants poses potential health risks to the general population.
Kolkata in India topped the list of most polluted cities with an AQI score of 196. Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and Singapore ranked second and third, with AQI scores of 189 and 169, respectively.
The AQI categorizes air quality, with a reading between 101 and 150 considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', and 151 to 200 classified as 'unhealthy'. Readings from 201 to 300 are deemed 'very unhealthy', while levels above 301 are considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks.
The AQI index provides daily updates on air pollution levels, helping to assess the potential health impacts of air quality. In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined by measuring five major pollutants particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
In Dhaka, air pollution has been a persistent issue, with air quality typically worsening during the winter months and improving during the monsoon season.
The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution leads to approximately seven million deaths globally each year, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.