Dhaka ranked second on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 252 at 9 am on Monday (Jan 13), reports UNB.
The air was classified as 'very unhealthy' according to the air quality and pollution rankings.
Mongolia's Ulaanbaatar and Vietnam's Hanoi occupied the first and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 255 and 244, respectively.
An AQI between 151 and 200 is categorized as 'unhealthy,' while an AQI of 201 to 300 is deemed 'very unhealthy.' An AQI ranging from 301 to 400 is classified as 'hazardous,' posing significant health risks to residents.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
