Dhaka’s air ‘worst in the world’ again

Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, has been identified as the city with the most polluted air globally, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 286, categorizing its air as 'very unhealthy' for the second consecutive day on Monday morning.

Yesterday, Dhaka’s AQI score was 257. This alarming status underscores the severe environmental challenges faced by the city's residents, with air pollution posing significant health risks.

India's Kolkata and Mumbai, along with Pakistan’s Lahore, were ranked closely behind Dhaka, with AQI scores of 269, 240, and 211 respectively, indicating a widespread air quality crisis across several major South Asian cities.

The AQI scale reveals that values between 201 and 300 signify 'very unhealthy' air quality, directly impacting public health. This range indicates a high risk of adverse health effects, urging residents, especially those in vulnerable groups, to take necessary precautions.

Defined by the concentration of five major air pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone — the AQI serves as a crucial tool for informing the public about daily air pollution levels and potential health implications.