DHAKA, Jan 7, (V7N) – Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, has once again topped the list of cities with the worst air quality. At 9:15 am this morning, the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 212, marking the air as ‘very unhealthy’ and posing severe health risks to residents.

According to the AQI scale, air quality is classified as:

50-100: Moderate (sensitive individuals should limit prolonged outdoor exertion)

101-150: Unhealthy for sensitive groups

151-200: Unhealthy

201-300: Very unhealthy

301+: Hazardous, posing serious health risks

Dhaka’s AQI of 212 falls into the ‘very unhealthy’ category, signaling a severe health threat for the general population, particularly for vulnerable groups.

Hanoi (Vietnam) secured second place with an AQI score of 281.

Kolkata (India) followed with 251, and Mumbai ranked fourth with 215.

The AQI provides vital information about the level of air pollution in a specific area, based on the concentrations of five major pollutants: PM10, PM2.5, NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, particularly in the winter months when the air quality worsens. During the monsoon, however, the air quality tends to improve. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for the deaths of seven million people annually worldwide, primarily due to conditions such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

As Dhaka continues to face severe air quality issues, authorities and residents are urged to take preventive measures, especially during the winter months when the pollution levels peak.

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