Dhaka’s air quality has deteriorated to “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 132 recorded at 10:55 AM today. This places the city 11th on the global list of cities with the worst air quality, a troubling trend as the capital grapples with persistent pollution challenges.
Leading the list were Cairo, Egypt (AQI: 206), Lahore, Pakistan (AQI: 181), and Manama, Bahrain (AQI: 175), all of which reported significantly higher AQI values. An AQI reading between 101 and 150 is categorized as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups,’ including children, elderly individuals, and people with respiratory or heart conditions. The AQI ranges serve as a guide to public health risks, with levels of 151-200 labeled ‘unhealthy,’ 201-300 ‘very unhealthy,’ and readings above 301 considered ‘hazardous.’
The AQI measures air pollution levels based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone. In Dhaka, pollution is often most severe in the winter months, with air quality improving during the monsoon season. However, the ongoing pollution remains a major concern for the city’s health.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to the deaths of approximately seven million people worldwide each year. The primary causes of death include stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
Residents in Dhaka, particularly those in sensitive groups, are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activity as the city faces another peak in air pollution.
Source: UNB
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
