Dhaka's air quality took a significant downturn on Tuesday morning, ranking sixth globally with an AQI score of 171, classifying the air as "unhealthy." The Air Quality Index (AQI) reading was recorded at 8:31 AM, highlighting the severity of pollution in the city.
Lahore, Pakistan, Cairo, Egypt, and Yangon, Myanmar, topped the list with AQI scores of 289, 217, and 192, respectively.
The AQI is a tool used to report daily air quality, based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. The index categorizes air quality into several levels, ranging from "moderate" (50-100) to "hazardous" (301+), with health risks increasing as the score rises.
Air pollution has been an ongoing issue in Dhaka, particularly during the winter, with conditions improving during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for approximately seven million deaths globally each year, contributing to strokes, heart disease, respiratory illnesses, and cancer.
