Dhaka’s air is no longer the world`s most polluted.
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 70 at 9:25 am, Dhaka today ranked 26th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
South Africa`s Johannesburg, the United Arab Emirates’ Dubai, India`s Delhi and Washington, D.C. of USA occupied the first fourth spots on the list, with AQI scores of 194, 163, 148 and 139, respectively.
An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered `unhealthy`, particularly for sensitive groups.
Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be `poor`, while a reading of 300+ is considered `hazardous`, posing serious health risks to residents.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants -- Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.
Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year.
