Dhaka ranked 42nd among the world’s cities with the worst air quality on Thursday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 71, according to IQAir.
At 9:27 am, the capital’s air was classified as ‘moderate’, marking the third consecutive day of similar air quality, as per the AQI index, reports UNB.
An AQI score between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’, during which sensitive individuals are advised to limit prolonged outdoor exertion. A score between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, 150 to 200 is ‘unhealthy’, 201 to 300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and anything above 301 is deemed ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks to residents.
India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore, and Vietnam’s Hanoi were ranked as the top three most polluted cities, with AQI scores of 189, 174, and 171 respectively.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and ozone.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
