Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, was ranked as the third most polluted city globally with an AQI score of 198 Sunday morning at 8:45 AM.
The air quality was classified as 'unhealthy,' posing health risks to the city's residents.
The Air Quality Index (AQI) classifies air quality as follows: an AQI between 50 and 100 is considered 'moderate,' between 101 and 150 is 'unhealthy for sensitive groups,' between 150 and 200 is 'unhealthy,' between 201 and 300 is 'very unhealthy,' and an AQI over 301 is deemed 'hazardous,' indicating severe health risks.
Delhi, India, topped the list with an AQI of 338, followed by Lahore, Pakistan at 251, and Kathmandu, Nepal at 188. The AQI measures the concentration of five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka, like many cities in the region, faces persistent air pollution, especially during winter, with slight improvements during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths annually worldwide, contributing to strokes, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and acute infections.
