Dhaka's air quality is deemed 'very unhealthy

Dhaka's air quality is deemed 'very unhealthy,' ranking as the second worst in the world this morning.

Dhaka has been ranked second among cities worldwide with the worst air quality this morning, registering an AQI score of 259 at 8:42 AM. The air quality is classified as 'very unhealthy' according to the air quality index (AQI). 

Delhi and Kolkata, both in India, occupy the first and third positions on the list, with AQI scores of 417 and 251, respectively. 

The AQI scale categorizes air quality as follows: values between 101 and 150 are 'unhealthy for sensitive groups,' 150 to 200 is 'unhealthy,' 201 to 300 is 'very unhealthy,' and readings above 301 are considered 'hazardous,' posing serious health risks to residents.

The AQI serves as a daily reporting tool that informs the public about the cleanliness or pollution levels of a city's air and the potential health effects associated with it. In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined by five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.

Dhaka has been struggling with air pollution for years, with air quality typically deteriorating in winter and improving 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 increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.