Dhaka Tops Global Air Pollution Index Again

Dhaka ranked joint first with Kinshasa among the world’s most polluted cities on Thursday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 152 at 9:25am.

The capital’s air quality was classified as “unhealthy,” indicating that airborne pollutant levels had reached a stage that could pose health risks to the general public, according to AQI standards.

Delhi ranked next with an AQI score of 145, followed by Jakarta at 132. Jerusalem followed with a score of 107.

According to AQI standards, a reading between 101 and 150 is considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups,” while 151 to 200 is classified as “unhealthy.” A score between 201 and 300 is deemed “very unhealthy,” and readings above 301 are considered “hazardous,” posing serious health risks.

The AQI, which provides daily updates on air quality, indicates how clean or polluted the air is and highlights potential health effects associated with pollution exposure.

In Bangladesh, the AQI 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 struggled with severe air pollution, with air quality typically worsening during winter and improving during the monsoon season.

According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes around seven million deaths globally each year. It is linked to serious health conditions, including stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.