Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked fifth on the list of cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI score of 181 at 9:10 AM on January 31, 2025. Today’s air quality was classified as “unhealthy,” indicating a health threat, according to the AQI index.
Over the past few days, the city has been experiencing very unhealthy air quality, with pollution levels consistently high. The AQI scale categorizes air quality based on specific ranges. An AQI value between 50 and 100 is considered moderate, where sensitive individuals are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. An AQI between 101 and 150 is classified as unhealthy for sensitive groups, while a value between 151 and 200 is considered unhealthy for the general population. An AQI value between 201 and 300 is categorized as very unhealthy, and anything above 301 is considered hazardous, posing serious health risks to residents.
Cities like Delhi (India), Wuhan (China), and Kampala (Uganda) occupy the top three spots with AQI scores of 358, 203, and 198, respectively.
The AQI, which reports daily air quality, measures pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone, and informs residents about the potential health risks associated with the pollution level in their area.
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, especially during the winter months when the air quality worsens, though it tends to improve during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
