Dhaka’s air quality ranked the second worst in the world on Sunday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) score of 163 recorded at 9:45am, according to IQAir.
An AQI score of 160 falls under the “unhealthy” category, indicating that air pollution poses health risks to residents, particularly for sensitive groups such as children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
Pakistan’s Lahore ranked top in the list with an AQI of 195 while India’s Delhi (156) is in the third position.
Cities with high AQI levels typically experience increased concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which can penetrate deep into the lungs and cause various health problems.
Air quality in Dhaka often deteriorates during the dry season due to factors such as construction dust, vehicle emissions, industrial pollution and reduced rainfall.
Health experts advise residents to limit outdoor activities, wear masks when outside and keep windows closed to reduce exposure during periods of poor air quality.
The AQI is a daily indicator used to report air quality levels and their potential impact on human health.