AQI: Dhaka air third most polluted in world

With an air quality index (AQI) score of 182 on Friday morning, Dhaka ranked third on the list of cities worldwide with the worst air quality.

Pakistan's Lahore and Nepal's Kathmandu occupied the first two spots on the list, with AQI scores of 225 and 182, respectively.

An AQI between 151 and 200 is considered unhealthy, AQI between 201 and 300 is said to be very unhealthy and 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. 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 as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections.

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