Dhaka ranked second among the world’s most polluted cities this morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 160 at 9:02 am, classifying its air as ‘unhealthy.’

According to the AQI scale, an ‘unhealthy’ rating indicates an alarming health threat to the general population. Lahore and Karachi in Pakistan, along with Dakar in Senegal, took the first, third, and fourth spots with AQI scores of 214, 157, and 155, respectively.

The AQI categorizes air quality based on particle pollution levels:

50 to 100: moderate (sensitive individuals advised to limit outdoor exertion)

101 to 150: unhealthy for sensitive groups

151 to 200: unhealthy

201 to 300: very unhealthy

301 and above: hazardous, posing serious health risks.

The AQI measures five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.

Dhaka frequently battles poor air quality, especially in winter, with improvements typically seen during the monsoon season.

The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths worldwide each year, contributing to illnesses such as stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.