Dhaka, the overcrowded capital of Bangladesh, ranked fourth among cities with the worst air quality on Tuesday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 119 at 10:38am.
The city’s air was classified as “unhealthy for sensitive groups”, according to the global air quality and pollution city ranking.
India’s Delhi and Kolkata, along with Uganda’s Kampala, ranked first, second and third respectively with AQI scores of 183, 132 and 127.
AQI values between 101 and 150 are considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups”. Readings between 150 and 200 are classified as “unhealthy”. Levels between 201 and 300 are “very unhealthy”, while 301 and above are considered “hazardous”, posing serious health risks.
The AQI is an index that reports daily air quality and indicates how polluted a city’s air is and what health impacts it may have on residents.
In Bangladesh, AQI is calculated based on five pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO2) and ozone.
Dhaka has long struggled with air pollution. The city’s air quality usually becomes unhealthy during winter and improves during the monsoon season.
