Dhaka’s air remains unhealthy for sensitive groups for 3rd consecutive day

Dhaka’s air quality was classified as „unhealthy for sensitive groups” for the third consecutive day on Monday morning.

According to AQI, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 152 at 9:55 am, Dhaka ranked 5th in the list of cities with worst air quality globally.

Pakistan’s Lahore, Indonesia’s Jakarta and India’s Delhi topped the list with AQI scores of 170, 161 and 158 respectively.

Air quality is considered „unhealthy for sensitive groups” if the AQI value for particulate pollution is between 101 and 150, „unhealthy” between 150 and 200, „very unhealthy” between 201 and 300, and a reading of 301+ is considered „hazardous”. , which poses serious health risks to residents.

In Bangladesh, AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and ozone.

Dhaka has been facing air pollution problems for a long time. Its air quality generally becomes unhealthy during winters and improves during monsoons.

Air pollution continues to be one of the leading risk factors for death and disability worldwide.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills seven million people worldwide each year, mostly by increasing mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.