Air Quality in Dhaka Remains in ‘Moderate’ Zone

The air quality in Dhaka remained "moderate" this morning.

As of 9:06 am, Dhaka's air quality index (AQI) score of 78 places it as the 17th worst city in the world for air quality.

Good air quality is defined as having a "moderate" AQI of 50 to 100. However, a very small percentage of people who are extremely sensitive to air pollution may experience a slight health problem.

With AQI scores of 157, 154, and 131, respectively, the top three cities on the list were Kampala, Uganda; Jakarta, Indonesia; and Chicago, United States.

An AQI of 101 to 200 is regarded as "unhealthy," especially for vulnerable populations.

Similar to this, an AQI rating between 201 and 300 is rated "poor," while one between 301 and 400 is "hazardous," offering significant health hazards to locals.

The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five criterion pollutants: ozone, NO2, CO, SO2, and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5).

Air pollution has always been a problem in Dhaka. Winter is often when the air quality deteriorates, and monsoon season is when it gets better.

One of the leading causes of mortality and disability globally continues to be air pollution. Numerous studies have shown that breathing contaminated air increases a person's risk of heart disease, chronic respiratory conditions, lung infections, and cancer.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year.