Dhaka ranked 20th among cities with the worst air quality this morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 84 at 9:30 am. According to the AQI scale, this level is classified as ‘moderate unhealthy,’ indicating a light health threat, particularly for sensitive individuals.

In comparison, the city experienced significantly worse air quality yesterday, recording an AQI of 152, which falls under the ‘unhealthy’ category.

The AQI categorizes air quality into several levels: 50–100 is ‘moderate,’ 101–150 is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups,’ 150–200 is considered ‘unhealthy,’ 201–300 is ‘very unhealthy,’ and anything above 301 is labeled ‘hazardous,’ posing serious health risks.

On today’s list, Kuwait City, Santiago in Chile, and Cairo in Egypt were among the most polluted cities, occupying the second, third, and fourth positions with AQI scores of 191, 165, and 160 respectively.

Bangladesh’s AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.

Dhaka has struggled with air pollution for years, particularly during the dry winter months. The air quality typically improves during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to an estimated seven million deaths globally each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.