Dhaka, the heavily populated capital of Bangladesh, was ranked 14th out of 124 cities globally for air pollution on Tuesday, with Kathmandu, Nepal, taking the top spot.
According to Swiss-based air quality monitoring organization IQ Air, Dhaka recorded an air quality index score of 98 at 11 am Bangladesh time. This level is classified as ‘tolerable’ or moderate, reports Banglanews24.com.
IQ Air provides real-time air quality data, assessing pollution levels across cities.
The index categorizes air quality based on AQI scores as good, moderate or tolerable, unhealthy for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions, unhealthy, very unhealthy, and hazardous.
At the time of reporting, Kathmandu recorded the highest AQI at 251, followed by Delhi, India, at 213, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, at 197.
Dhaka’s air pollution is primarily driven by fine particulate matter, known as PM2.5. At 11 a.m., its concentration in the city’s air was 11.6 times higher than the World Health Organization recommended limit.
Bd-pratidin English/ Afia
