Dhaka Ranks 3rd Worst In Air Quality Index

Bangladesh’s capital Dhaka has ranked third among cities with the worst air quality.

The city had an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 207 at 10.06 am on Saturday (Dec 9). 

Pakistan’s Lahore (291) and Karachi (213) are ahead of Bangladesh on the list, according to IQAir.

An AQI score between 51 and 100 means the air quality is moderate. It is categorized as unhealthy for sensitive groups if the score remains between 101 and 150.

When the score ranges between 151 and 200, it is considered unhealthy.

Similarly, an AQI score of 201 to 300 is considered an emergency with health warnings. In this situation, children, the elderly, and sick patients are urged to limit their indoor and outdoor activities.

Any score above 300 is considered to be hazardous.

Dhaka’s air quality was ranked unhealthy, but the PM2.5 concentrations in Dhaka were 30.8 times higher than the WHO annual air quality guideline value.

Being one of the world’s most densely populated cities, Dhaka has been struggling with poor air quality for a long time. The quality deteriorates further during the summer and winter but improves slightly in the monsoon.

A 2019 study by the Department of Environment and the World Bank identified automobile smoke, dust from building sites, and brick kilns as the three primary sources of air pollution in the city.