Dhaka ranked as the world's 11th most polluted city on Tuesday morning, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 144 at 9:30 am.
The air quality was classified as 'unhealthy', indicating that the general public is not likely to be affected, but people who are more vulnerable to air pollution may experience adverse health effects, according to the AQI scale.
Pakistan’s Lahore topped the list with an AQI score of 265, followed by India’s Delhi with 224 and Iraq’s Baghdad with 183.
An AQI reading between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy for sensitive groups', while a score between 151 and 200 is classified as 'unhealthy'. Readings between 201 and 300 are deemed 'very unhealthy', and levels above 301 are considered 'hazardous', posing serious health risks.
The AQI, an index that tracks daily air quality, indicates how polluted the air is and the potential health effects on residents.
In Bangladesh, AQI measurements are based on five key pollutants: particulate matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and ozone.
According to the World Health Organization, air pollution causes an estimated seven million deaths worldwide each year, primarily from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.