Dhaka, February 25, (V7N): Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, has ranked third among cities with the worst air quality, recording an AQI (Air Quality Index) score of 187 at 9 AM today. The air quality is classified as ‘unhealthy’, which poses a health threat to residents, according to the AQI index.

The AQI categorizes air quality based on particulate pollution levels. An AQI score between 50-100 is considered ‘moderate’, between 101-150 is ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150-200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201-300 is ‘very unhealthy’, and a score over 301 is considered ‘hazardous’, representing serious health risks.

Delhi, India topped the list with an AQI score of 222, followed by Wuhan, China (194), and Lahore, Pakistan (187), while Dhaka shared the third spot with Lahore.

The AQI is a critical tool for assessing daily air quality and warns people about the level of pollution and its potential health effects. In Dhaka, the AQI is based on five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and ozone.

Air pollution has long been a challenge for Dhaka, particularly during winter when the air quality tends to be ‘unhealthy’. The quality improves during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution contributes to around seven million deaths annually worldwide, primarily due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory infections, and chronic diseases.

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