Dhaka’s Air Quality Among the World’s Worst Today
Published on: January 12, 2024.
Filed under:
Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh, has once again been ranked second on the list of cities with the worst air quality globally. This morning, at 8:55 am, the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 219, indicating ‘very unhealthy’ air conditions and posing serious health risks to its residents.
According to a report by UNB, Dhaka’s air quality index is a cause for concern. The city is closely followed by Kolkata in India, and Wuhan in China, which ranked first and third on the list with AQI scores of 278 and 212, respectively.
The AQI scale categorizes air quality based on the concentration of particle pollution. When the AQI value ranges between 101 and 150, the air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’. Between 150 and 200, it is considered ‘unhealthy’. Dhaka’s AQI score of 219 falls within the ‘very unhealthy’ category, while a reading of 301 or higher is deemed ‘hazardous’, posing severe health risks.
The AQI serves as an informative tool for residents, providing them with an understanding of the air quality in their city and any associated health effects they should be aware of.
In Bangladesh, the AQI is determined by monitoring five pollutants: particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
Dhaka has been grappling with air pollution for a long time, with the issue becoming particularly severe during winter months. However, there is some respite during the monsoon season when air quality slightly improves.
It is important to address the issue of air pollution as it poses a significant threat to public health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution leads to the premature deaths of approximately seven million people worldwide each year. The elevated mortality rate is primarily due to health conditions such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.
To read the original article, please click on the following link: [Source](https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd)
