Dhaka's air quality continued to be in the 'unhealthy' zone this morning (March 20, 2023).
With an air quality index (AQI) score of 133 at 9 am, Dhaka ranked 15 in the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.
An AQI between 101 and 150 is considered 'unhealthy', particularly for sensitive groups.
Iraq’s Baghdad, Pakistan's Lahore and South Korea's Incheon occupied the first three spots in the list, with AQI scores of 259, 257 and 194, respectively.
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An AQI 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.
Air pollution consistently ranks among the top risk factors for death and disability worldwide.
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As per the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution kills an estimated seven million people worldwide every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.