“Dhaka Ranks 3rd Worst Globally in Air Quality, Urgent Action Needed as AQI Hits 152” Dhaka’s air quality took a dire turn today, with an AQI of 152 at 8:53 am, placing the city in the distressing 3rd position for the worst air quality worldwide, according to UNB. Baghdad, Jakarta, and Dubai secured the top spots, recording AQI scores of 161, 160, and 151 respectively.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality from ‘moderate’ (50-100) to ‘very unhealthy’ (201-300), and beyond. Dhaka’s ongoing air pollution challenges are well-known, often worsening during winter and improving briefly during the monsoon. The AQI, which evaluates various pollutants including PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone, provides vital information about potential health risks associated with local air quality.
A reading of 152 raises concerns, as an AQI between 101 and 150 falls under the ‘unhealthy’ range. The World Health Organization (WHO) links air pollution to seven million annual global deaths, primarily attributed to strokes, heart diseases, respiratory ailments, and lung cancer. Dhaka’s populace faces a pressing need for urgent measures to combat this severe air quality issue.