Dhaka ranked 10th among the world’s cities with the worst air quality on Thursday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 106 recorded at 9:42 am.
The reading put the capital’s air in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category, meaning children, older adults and people with heart or lung conditions may face greater health risks, while the general population is less likely to be affected.
Malaysia’s Kuching topped the global list with an AQI of 274, followed by Kampala in Uganda with an AQI of 161 and Jakarta in Indonesia with 158.
An AQI score between 101 and 150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups. Scores of 151–200 are classified as unhealthy, 201–300 as very unhealthy and anything above 301 as hazardous.
The AQI is used to indicate the level of air pollution and its potential effects on human health. In Bangladesh, the index is calculated using five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and ozone.
Dhaka has struggled with air pollution for years, with pollution levels typically worsening during the winter months and improving during the monsoon.
The health impact of polluted air remains a major global concern. The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution contributes to around 7 million deaths each year, mainly through diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
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