Dhaka records moderate air quality, ranks 17th globally for pollution

Dhaka recorded moderate air quality on Monday morning, ranking 17th among the world's most polluted cities, according to Swiss air quality monitoring platform IQAir.

At 9:45am, the Bangladeshi capital posted an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 90, placing it in the 'moderate' category.

An AQI score between 51 and 100 indicates that air quality is generally acceptable. However, individuals who are unusually sensitive to air pollution may experience minor to moderate health effects following prolonged exposure.

Kampala, Uganda, topped the global pollution list with an AQI score of 159, followed by Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a score of 158. Both cities recorded air quality classified as 'unhealthy'.

The AQI measures the concentration of key air pollutants, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), PM10, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ground-level ozone (O₃).

Under the AQI classification, a score of 101-150 is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy, while a score of 301 or above is deemed hazardous, posing serious health risks to the entire population.

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Dhaka's air quality remains moderate amid rain

Dhaka has long been among the world's most polluted cities, with air quality typically worsening during the dry winter months because of dust, vehicle emissions and industrial pollution. Conditions generally improve during the monsoon season as rainfall and stronger winds help disperse airborne pollutants.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for an estimated seven million premature deaths worldwide each year, contributing to diseases such as stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.