Dhaka Among World’s 12 Most Polluted Cities on Wednesday

Dhaka ranked 12th among the world’s most polluted cities on Wednesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 144 at 10:10am.

The city’s air quality was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, meaning people who are particularly vulnerable to air pollution may experience adverse health effects, while the general public is less likely to be significantly affected.

Pakistan’s Lahore topped the list with an AQI score of 358, followed by India’s Delhi at 269 and Egypt’s Cairo at 253.

According to the AQI scale, readings between 101 and 150 are considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, while scores from 151 to 200 are classified as “unhealthy”. Readings between 201 and 300 are considered “very unhealthy”, and scores above 300 are classified as “hazardous”, indicating serious health risks.

The AQI measures daily air quality, indicating the level of pollution and its potential effects on public health.

In Bangladesh, air quality is assessed using five major pollutants: particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone.

The World Health Organization estimates that air pollution causes around seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.