Dhaka’s air remains unhealthy despite persistent rain

Despite persistent rainfall across much of the country, Dhaka ranked as the world’s third most polluted city on Monday morning.

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), Bangladesh’s capital ranked third among the world’s most polluted cities, recording an AQI score of 163 at 9:40 am. 

Kinshasa, the capital and largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kampala, the capital of Uganda, occupied the first and second spots, with AQI scores of 184 and 171, respectively.

An AQI reading between 101 and 150 is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, while a reading between 151 and 200 is classified as ‘unhealthy’. Levels between 201 and 300 are deemed ‘very unhealthy’, and readings above 301 are categorised as ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks.

The AQI, an index that tracks daily air quality, indicates how polluted the air is and the potential health effects on residents.

In Bangladesh, AQI measurements are based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone.

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.