Air Quality Index: Dhaka’s Air Still ‘Unhealthy’

Given the continuing shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic, Dhaka ranked 5th in the Air Quality Index (AQI) on Friday morning.

The capital ranked the worst in the Air Quality Index (AQI) with a ranking of 154 at 9:18 a.m. The air has been classified as 'unhealthy.'

When the AQI value is between 151 and 200, everyone may begin to experience health effects. Members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.

China’s Beijing, Pakistan’s Lahore, and Indonesia’s Jakarta occupied the first three spots in the list of cities with worst air with scores of 197, 191, and 158 respectively.

Bangladesh has shut down educational institutions, mass transport, and non-essential services and restricted the movement of people and vehicles to tackle the spread of coronavirus.

People have been asked to stay indoors.

AQI, a database for the measurement of everyday air quality, tells citizens how healthy or unhealthy the environment in a given area is and what health consequences might be of interest to them.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is focused on five pollutant criteria-Particle Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution. Its air quality usually improves during monsoon.

Source: UNB