Dhaka’s air was ranked 5th most polluted among cities around the world this morning (August 14, 2023), according to the Air Quality Index (AQI).

The air in Dhaka city was categorised as ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, with an AQI score of 136 at 8:30 am.

Uganda’s Kampala, United Arab Emirates’ Dubai, Kuwait’s Kuwait City and Indonesia’s Jakarta occupied the first four spots on the list, with AQI scores of 162, 159, 157 and 152 respectively.

Read: Thanks to rain, Dhaka's air quality 'moderate' this morning

When the AQI value for particle pollution is between 101 and 150, air quality is considered ‘unhealthy for sensitive groups’, between 150 and 200 is ‘unhealthy’, between 201 and 300 is said to be 'very unhealthy', while a reading of 301+ is considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks to residents.

In Bangladesh, the AQI is based on five criteria pollutants — particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), NO2, CO, SO2, and Ozone.

Dhaka has long been grappling with air pollution issues. Its air quality usually turns unhealthy in winter and improves during the monsoon.

Read: Dhaka’s air unhealthy for sensitive groups this morning

Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.

As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely due to increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer, and acute respiratory infections.

Read more: Dhaka’s air 3rd most polluted in the world this morning