Capital ranks 18th globally for poor air quality

Dhaka ranked 18th among cities with the world’s worst air quality on Sunday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 84 at 11:12am.

The city’s air quality was classified as ‘Moderate’ on the AQI scale, indicating moderate health concerns for a very small number of unusually sensitive people, including those with asthma or heart disease and older adults.

According to the global pollution ranking, Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo topped the list with an AQI score of 211.

Kuching in Malaysia ranked second with 191, followed by Kampala in Uganda with 185.

An AQI reading between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while 151 to 200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. Readings between 201 and 300 are considered ‘very unhealthy’, while anything above 301 falls into the ‘hazardous’ category and poses serious health risks. The AQI provides a daily indication of air quality by measuring pollution levels and their potential effects on human health.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is calculated based on five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone.

Dhaka has long faced serious air pollution problems, with air quality generally deteriorating during the winter months and improving during the monsoon season.

The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution contributes to around 7 million deaths worldwide every year.

The deaths are mainly linked to diseases and conditions including stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

While Dhaka’s Sunday morning reading remained within the ‘Moderate’ category, the capital continues to face persistent air pollution concerns, particularly during periods when pollution levels rise sharply.