Air pollution still remains one of the top-most challenges for Bangladesh and Dhaka ranked as the fifth most polluted city in the world with ‘unhealthy’ air quality this morning.
Dhaka’s air quality index (AQI) score was 141 at 9:02 am.
The United Arab Emirates’ Dubai, Pakistan’s Lahore and Indonesia’s Jakarta occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 160, 155, and 155 respectively.
Thanks to rain, Dhaka's air quality 'good' this morning
When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.
Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
Dhaka's air quality ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’ this morning
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.