Cyclone Midhili impact: Dhaka’s air quality improves

Dhaka's air quality has been marked ‘moderate’ this morning, as the capital experienced light to moderate rain triggered by the depression in Bay of Bengal.

With an air quality index (AQI) score of 62 at 8:57 am, Dhaka today ranked 30th on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.

An AQI between 50 and 100 is considered ‘moderate’ with an acceptable air quality. However, there may be a moderate health concern for a very small number of people who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.

India’s Delhi, Pakistan’s Lahore and Kuwait’s Kuwait City occupied the first three spots on the list, with AQI scores of 328, 317 and 186, respectively.

An AQI between 101 and 200 is considered ‘unhealthy’, particularly for sensitive groups. Similarly, an AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be ‘poor’, while a reading of 301 to 400 is considered ‘hazardous’, posing serious health risks to residents.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants – Particulate Matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2 and Ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, reports UNB.