Dhaka ranked third on the list of cities with the worst air quality in the world on Thursday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 169 at 9:20 am.
The air quality was classified as ‘unhealthy’, meaning the concentration of pollutants in the air had reached a level that could pose health risks to the general population, according to the AQI scale.
Pakistan’s Lahore topped the list with an AQI score of 180, followed by Malaysia’s Kuching with 170. India’s Delhi ranked fourth with an AQI score of 168.
An AQI score between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while readings between 151 and 200 are classified as ‘unhealthy’.
Scores ranging from 201 to 300 are considered ‘very unhealthy’, while readings above 301 are classified as ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks.
The AQI is a daily measure of air quality that indicates the level of pollution in the air and its potential health impacts on people.
In Bangladesh, AQI measurements are based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone.
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.