Dhaka, the bustling and overcrowded capital city of Bangladesh, has been ranked as the third worst city in the world for air quality, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 187 at 9 a.m. on Tuesday. The air was classified as “unhealthy,” indicating a significant health risk for residents, according to the AQI index.
The AQI measures the levels of various pollutants in the air, with a score between 101 and 150 considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” and a score between 150 and 200 deemed “unhealthy.” At 187, Dhaka’s air quality is considered dangerous for general public health, especially for children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions.
The cities of Delhi in India, Wuhan in China, and Lahore in Pakistan took the top spots on the list, with AQI scores of 222, 194, and 187, respectively. These rankings reflect ongoing concerns about the quality of air in many South Asian cities, which have been struggling with severe pollution for years.
The AQI is an index used globally to report daily air quality, helping residents understand how clean or polluted the air in their city is and what potential health effects they may face. The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has long dealt with air pollution, which worsens during the winter months when vehicle emissions, construction dust, and industrial fumes are trapped in the city’s stagnant air. The air quality typically improves during the monsoon season, but the pollution remains a consistent concern.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for approximately seven million deaths globally every year. The leading causes of death include stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections, many of which are exacerbated by poor air quality.
As Dhaka continues to grapple with its air pollution problem, health experts are urging the government to take stronger action to reduce emissions, improve public transportation, and implement better air quality monitoring to protect the health of its residents.
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