Dhaka has ranked the fifth on the list of cities with the worst air quality with an AQI score of 188 at 8:52 am this morning (January 19), reports UNB.
Today’s air was classified as ‘unhealthy', referring to a health threat, according to the AQI index.
When the AQI value for particle pollution ranges from 50 to 100, air quality is categorized as 'moderate', and sensitive individuals should consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion. An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while readings between 150 and 200 indicate 'unhealthy' air quality. An AQI between 201 and 300 is labeled 'very unhealthy', and a reading above 301 is deemed 'hazardous', posing significant health risks to residents.
Pakistan’s Lahore, India’s Delhi and Vietnam’s Hanoi respectively occupied the first, second and third spots on the list, with AQI scores of 441, 348 and 222 respectively.
The AQI informs people how clean or polluted the air of a certain city is and what associated health effects might be a concern for them.
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 World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, mainly due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Bd-Pratidin English/ARK
