Air Quality in Dhaka Remains in ‘Moderate’ Zone

With an air quality index (AQI) score of 82 at 8:45 am, Dhaka was ranked 15th among the cities with the worst air in the world.

With AQI scores of 161, 157, and 156, respectively, the top three cities on the list were Kuching, Malaysia; Lahore, Pakistan; and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

An AQI score between 51 and 100 is considered "moderate," one between 101 and 150 is "unhealthy," one between 201 and 300 is "very unhealthy," and one between 301 and higher is "hazardous," posing serious health risks to the population.

Ozone, NO2, CO, SO2, and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) are the five criteria pollutants on which Bangladesh's air quality index (AQI) is based.

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.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people year around the world, mostly due to an increase in fatalities from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and acute respiratory infections.