Desk Report –
On Sunday morning, Dhaka’s air quality remained in the “unhealthy” category.
At 8 am, the city had an air quality index (AQI) score of 168, placing it seventh out of the world’s most polluted cities.
An AQI of 101 to 200 is regarded as “unhealthy”, especially for vulnerable populations.
As winter approaches, the city’s air quality begins to rapidly deteriorate as a result of the large release of polluting particles from building sites, dilapidated roadways, brick kilns, and other sources.
The top three cities on the list were Lahore, Pakistan, Delhi, India, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, with AQI scores of 337, 256, and 172, respectively.
A reading of AQI between 201 and 300 is referred to as “poor,” while one between 301 and 400 is referred to as “dangerous,” causing significant health hazards to locals.
The AQI in Bangladesh is based on five criterion pollutants: ozone, NO2, CO, SO2, and particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5).
Air pollution has always been a problem in Dhaka. Winter is often when the air quality deteriorates, and monsoon season is when it gets better.
One of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide continues to be air pollution. Numerous studies have shown that breathing contaminated air increases a person’s risk of heart disease, chronic respiratory conditions, lung infections, and cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people year throughout the world, primarily due to an increase in fatalities from heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and acute respiratory infections.
