Dhaka, the densely populated capital of Bangladesh, ranked fourth among the world’s most polluted cities on Friday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 204 recorded at 9:08am.
According to the AQI report, the city’s air was classified as “very unhealthy,” indicating a serious health risk for residents, particularly children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions.
Pakistan’s Lahore topped the global list with an AQI of 362, followed by Hanoi in Vietnam at 289 and Cairo in Egypt at 210.
Under the AQI scale, air quality readings between 50 and 100 are considered “moderate” and generally acceptable, though sensitive individuals are advised to limit prolonged outdoor activity. Levels of 101–150 are labeled “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” 151–200 as “unhealthy,” 201–300 as “very unhealthy,” while readings above 301 are considered “hazardous,” posing severe health risks to the population.
The AQI provides daily information on air pollution levels and associated health impacts. In Bangladesh, the index is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has long faced chronic air pollution, with air quality typically worsening during the winter months and improving during the monsoon season due to rainfall.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that air pollution contributes to around seven million premature deaths globally each year, mainly from stroke, heart disease, chronic respiratory illnesses, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
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