Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked 4th among the world’s most polluted cities on Sunday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 138 at 11:37 am, reports UNB.
The air quality was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” indicating potential health risks for the general population, according to the AQI scale.
Hanoi, Vietnam; Kolkata, India; and Delhi, India occupied the top three positions on the list, with AQI scores of 155, 142, and 142 respectively.
According to AQI standards, readings between 101 and 150 are considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 151 to 200 are “unhealthy,” 201 to 300 are “very unhealthy,” while levels above 301 are deemed “hazardous,” posing serious health risks.
The AQI, which reports daily air quality, informs residents about how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects.
In Bangladesh, AQI is calculated 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 struggled with air pollution, with air quality typically deteriorating during winter and improving in the monsoon season.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution causes about seven million deaths worldwide each year, mainly due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
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