Dhaka, Jan 21 (V7N) - Bangladesh’s capital, Dhaka, recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 244 at 8:50 am on Tuesday, placing it third on the list of cities with the worst air quality globally. Classified as “very unhealthy,” this level of air pollution poses significant health risks, according to AQI standards.

Bosnia Herzegovina's Sarajevo topped the list with an alarming AQI score of 488, followed by Hanoi, Vietnam (259). India’s Delhi ranked fourth with an AQI of 228, highlighting the widespread issue of air pollution across major cities.

The AQI measures air quality based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone. Levels between 201 and 300 are deemed “very unhealthy,” posing severe health threats, especially to sensitive groups. Improved air quality could save over 81,000 lives annually in Bangladesh, according to recent studies.

Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution, which worsens in winter due to increased particulate matter. While monsoon rains offer temporary relief, sustainable measures are urgently needed. Globally, air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million deaths annually, as per the WHO, primarily from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

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