Dhaka ranked 18th among the world’s most polluted cities on Monday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 87.
The city’s air quality was classified as ‘moderate’, according to the AQI scale.
Malaysia’s Kuching topped the list with an AQI of 194, followed by Pakistan's Lahore with 170, and Indonesia'a Jakarta with 167.
Kampala, capital of Uganda, was also among the cities with the highest pollution levels.
An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered "moderate" with an acceptable air quality while AQI between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while a score between 151 and 200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. AQI readings between 201 and 300 are termed ‘very unhealthy’, and anything above 301 is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks.
The AQI is a daily indicator of air quality, showing how clean or polluted the air is and the possible health effects people may experience.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and ozone.
Dhaka has long struggled with severe air pollution. Air quality usually worsens during winter and improves in the monsoon season.
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.