Dhaka has topped the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 241 at 9 a.m. on February 19, 2025. The air was classified as "very unhealthy," indicating a significant health threat to residents.
According to the AQI index, air quality is categorized based on the level of particle pollution. A score between 50 and 100 is considered "moderate," while 101 to 150 is "unhealthy for sensitive groups." Scores between 150 and 200 are labeled "unhealthy," and those between 201 and 300 are "very unhealthy." Any AQI reading over 301 is deemed "hazardous" and poses serious health risks.
Cities like Lahore, Pakistan (AQI 211), Delhi, India (AQI 190), and Kathmandu, Nepal (AQI 181) ranked second, third, and fourth, respectively, for the worst air quality.
The AQI measures air pollution based on five main pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Dhaka has faced ongoing air pollution challenges, with air quality typically worsening in the winter months and improving during the monsoon season.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths annually worldwide, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and respiratory infections.
